Eminem’s half-brother has made a statement online after the news of their mother’s passing.
Debbie Nelson, the mother of the renowned rapper Eminem, has died at the age of 69, as announced yesterday (December 3).
The news was confirmed by Eminem’s representatives to both PEOPLE and TMZ, revealing that Debbie succumbed to complications from lung cancer on Monday (December 2).
Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III, had a complex and often tumultuous relationship with his mother. This tension was evident in some of his songs, leading Debbie to file a $10 million lawsuit against her son.
The lawsuit focused on a line from his 1999 track ‘My Name Is’, where Eminem claimed his mother “smokes more dope than I do.”
Although Debbie won the case, she received only $25,000, far less than she sought, and after legal expenses, she reportedly had less than $2,000 left.
In more recent years, their relationship seemed to have improved. In 2022, Debbie congratulated Eminem on his Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, while Eminem expressed regret in the song ‘Headlights’ for his 2002 track ‘Cleanin’ Out My Closet’, which he no longer includes in his performances.
Aside from being Eminem’s mother, Debbie was also the mother of Nathan Kane Mathers, Eminem’s half-brother.
Nathan, who is often called Nate, reportedly also had a challenging relationship with his mother.
Reacting to the news of her passing, Nate shared on his Instagram Story: “Hatred and mixed emotions today.”
Eminem has not yet publicly commented on his mother’s death.
Nate, who is 13 years younger than Eminem, was placed into foster care at eight years old, according to PEOPLE.
Given their age gap, Eminem had hoped to become Nate’s primary guardian.
“When he was taken away I always said if I ever get in a position to take him, I would take him,” Eminem shared with Rolling Stone in 2004.
“I tried to apply for full custody when I was 20, but I didn’t have the means. I couldn’t support him.”
“I watched him when he was in the foster home. He was so confused. I mean, I cried just going to see him at the foster home.”
“The day he was taken away I was the only one allowed to see him.”
It wasn’t until Nate was 16 that Eminem managed to secure custody of him.
Reflecting on his brother’s influence, Nate praised Eminem as “the best role model” during an appearance on Eminem’s daughter’s podcast last year.
Nate remarked: “He was the best role model I could have had to help me be the dad that I am today.”