Eminem’s mother, Debbie Nelson, dead at 69
Eminem‘s mother has died at the age of 69. Debbie Nelson passed away on December 2nd, following a battle with advanced lung cancer.
According to TMZ, Debbie died on December 1st in St. Joseph, Missouri after being terminally ill. Debbie’s diagnosis was revealed in September, with sources telling In Touch Weekly that she didn’t have long to live. “There are not many options [for Debbie],” the source said. “She is currently staying between the cancer centre and with family members. She has a very limited amount of time [left].”
The source also claimed that Eminem hadn’t been in contact with his mother for years. “People around her aren’t even sure if Eminem is even aware of what is happening to his mother,” the source claimed. “He’s good to his mum. He makes sure he takes care of her, but they don’t really talk. It would be good for both of them [to communicate]. This could give them the chance to reconcile.”
Eminem and his mother have had a difficult relationship over the years. After he rapped, “I just found out my mom does more dope than I do,” on his hit single ‘My Name Is‘ from 1999’s The Slim Shady LP, his mother sued him for $11 million over defamation of character. A statement from his lawyer said the lawsuit was the “result of a lifelong strained relationship” between them.
During an interview with Salon in 2001, Nelson claimed she wasn’t the person Eminem was painting her out to be.
“I’m not this evil, horrible monster that my son has portrayed,” she said. “The media has been very cruel. And I have to say, I really feel sorry for Marshall. I really do. He’s going through too much right now. He’s under so much stress. I have to just sit and try to listen. If I try to say anything, he starts screaming and self-destructs.”
She added, “I’m trying to figure him out, because he’s like, ‘You only loved me until I was 8 years old.’ He’s got all these different personalities I’m trying to deal with right now. It’s very hard for me because I’m thinking, ‘Well, is it alcohol? Is it drugs? Plus, the stress – what is he really going through?'”
Eminem is yet to publicly comment on his mother’s death.