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Sad news came on Monday, December 3, that Eminem's mother, Debbie Nelson, passed away at the age of 69 after a battle with lung cancer. She died in St. Joseph, Mo., from complications. TMZ was the first to report the news. The death of a parent is extremely impactful, and it's no secret the rapper had a complicated relationship with his mother, who he reportedly supported financially.
Debbie welcomed Eminem into the world in 1972 with Marshall Bruce Mathers Jr., although he never knew his father. As he rose to superstardom, the rapper accused her of abusing alcohol and drugs in his famous songs like "My Mom" (1999) and "My Name Is," (1999) where he raps, "I just found out my mom does more dope than I do (Damn) · I told her I'd grow up to be a famous rapper. Make a record about doin' drugs and name it after her."
In 1999, she sued him for defamation, seeking $10 million after his lyrics and interviews painted her as a neglectful mother and drug addict. She ultimately won a $25,000 settlement. The lawsuit, however, didn’t stop Eminem from singing about her. In the 2002 track "Cleanin' Out My Closet," he blasted his mom from beginning to end, even saying he was a victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, saying, "Goin' through public housing systems, a victim of Münchausen's Syndrome / My whole life I was made to believe I was sick when I wasn't."
In her 2008 memoir, My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem, Debbie shared her heartbreak over their estrangement and claimed she wanted to set the record straight.
"I wasn't happy when he made up a whole new life for himself—what mother wants to be known as a pill-popping alcoholic who lives on welfare?" she wrote. "To tell the truth, I was heartbroken. The lies started coming thick and fast—and not just from Marshall. I think he's forgotten the good times we had, and this book is my way of setting the record straight."
Eminem's apology
Debbie was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010. In 2013, Eminem publicly apologized to her in his song "Headlights," acknowledging that she did the best she could. He also vowed to stop performing "Cleanin' Out My Closet." "But I'm sorry mama for 'Cleanin' Out My Closet,' at the time I was angry. That song I no longer play at shows, and I cringe every time it's on the radio," he sings.
When Eminem was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, Debbie congratulated him in a now-deleted video, saying, "I knew you'd get there. It's been a long ride. I'm very, very proud of you." She also praised her granddaughter, Hailie Jade. "And also I'm very proud of Hailie Jade, my big girl," she said. "I want to tell you, Hailie, great job on your podcast, and God bless you guys. I love you very much."
Debbie's passing comes five years after Eminem's estranged father, Marshall, died at the age of 67.