Debbie Nelson, who had a contentious relationship with her son, rapper Eminem, for several years, died on December 2 from lung cancer. She was 69 years old.
Debbie Nelson, the rapper’s mother Eminemdied at the age of 69. According to a representative of the artist, contacted by People and the New York TimesDebbie Nelson died on December 2 at St. Joseph Hospital in Missouri after complications from lung cancer she was diagnosed with in September.
Throughout his career, Eminem has repeatedly mentioned in his songs the tumultuous relationship he had with his mother. However, they had become closer in recent years.
A conflictual relationship
At the height of his career, in 2002, Eminem notably unveiled the song Cleanin’ Out My Closet in which he publicly accused Debbie Nelson of being neglectful and abusive towards him during his childhood.
In the video for the title, the rapper presented himself, as a child, in front of a violent mother addicted to medication, and called her a “selfish bitch” and invited her to go “roast in hell”.
In 2002, Eminem again mentioned his conflicted relationship with his mother in 8 Milea film by Curtis Hanson that chronicles the rapper’s childhood and rise to fame in Detroit. Played by Kim Basinger, Debbie Nelson was once again portrayed as an alcoholic and violent mother.
In response, Debbie Nelson sued her son for defamation. In 2007, she also attacked Eminem in her autobiography My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem.
But in 2013, Eminem ended up making a clean sweep of the past with his song Headlights. The artist expressed his regrets regarding his comments about his mother and apologized to her. During the rapper’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, Debbie Nelson publicly congratulated her son for this feat.
