Eminem's Mother, Debbie Nelson, Dead at 69

The rapper's relationship with his mother was quite complicated. She was often a subject in his songs, but he later expressed his regret and apologized to her in one of his tracks.

Eminem's mother, Debbie Nelson, who had a complicated and often troubled relationship with the rapper, has passed away at the age of 69. Dennis Dennehy, Eminem's longtime spokesperson, confirmed her death to Rolling Stone. The specific cause of her death has not been disclosed yet.

Nelson had her first child, Eminem (whose real name is Marshall Mathers), on October 17, 1972, when she was just 18 years old. In a 1999 article from Rolling Stone about Eminem, she mentioned that she married his father, Bruce Mathers, when she was 15 and he was 22. They spent a number of years performing together in a band called Daddy Warbucks.

Shortly after Eminem's birth, Bruce departed from the family, leaving Nelson to raise the rapper and his half-brother, Nathan, mostly by herself. For several years, they moved between Michigan and Missouri before eventually making Detroit their home.

Nelson claimed that she offered both financial help and emotional support to her son. However, in a 1999 interview, Eminem expressed that they were always in conflict. He alleged that she took his paychecks, often forced him out of their home, and had issues with pills and other substances, leading to unpredictable mood changes. (Nelson rejected these drug allegations.)

As Eminem focused on his music career, Nelson often found herself in the spotlight as a target and adversary. In his song "My Name Is," Eminem rapped, "I just found out my mom does more dope than I do," which led Nelson to file a $10 million defamation lawsuit against him. Although she prevailed in court, she is said to have received only $25,000, with the majority of that amount going towards covering her legal expenses.

Even with the ongoing legal conflict, Eminem kept crafting sharp lyrics about Nelson in tracks like "Kill You" and "Cleanin' Out My Closet." In response, Nelson decided to fire back with her own diss track aimed at her son. In the early 2000s, a hip-hop group known as ID-X approached her, then known as Debbie Mathers-Briggs, suggesting she release her own CD, and she agreed. From that collaboration, one of the two songs titled "Dear Marshall" featured Nelson delivering a heartfelt letter to her son, where she both criticizes him and acknowledges her own shortcomings.

“Marshall, I really tried my hardest,” she admits at one moment. “I turned a blind eye to so much/Looking back, I realize I was naive to think I was giving you my all/And never doubted anything you did/Because you seemed flawless to me/My unwavering love has led to a self-centered young man.” In closing, she urges, “Could the true Marshall Mathers please step forward/And own up to what he’s done?”

In 2008, Nelson released a revealing book titled My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem. In an interview with MTV News, she expressed her feelings about her son, saying, "He never had a relationship with his father, and I tried my best to fill that gap. I was upset when he created a completely new persona for himself — what mother wants to be seen as a struggling addict living off welfare? Honestly, it broke my heart. The lies began to pile up — and not just from Marshall... I believe he’s forgotten the happy moments we shared, and this book is my attempt to clarify the truth."

Although the specifics of Eminem's relationship with his mother in recent years aren't clear, there have been indications that their relationship has improved. In his 2013 track "Headlights," Eminem offered an apology to his mother, reflecting on his regrets about the song "Cleanin' Out My Closet." He mentioned, “I don’t perform that song anymore, and I feel embarrassed whenever it plays on the radio.” He also expressed that they are still not close, saying, “I really dislike that we’re still apart because you never got to see your grandchildren grow up.”

In late 2022, Nelson acknowledged Eminem's acceptance into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Although she wasn't present at the event, she took to Twitter to express her excitement. She wrote, "Marshall, I couldn't let this moment pass without congratulating you on your induction into the Hall of Fame. I love you deeply. I always knew you would achieve this. It's been quite a journey, and I'm incredibly proud of you."