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Debbie Nelson, the mother rapper Eminem, has passed away at the age of 69 following a battle with advanced lung cancer. Her death, reported by TMZ and confirmed by Dennis Dennehy, Eminem's representative, occurred in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Born on a Kansas military base, Debbie was the eldest of five siblings. She married Marshall Bruce Mathers Jr. as a teenager and gave birth to Eminem (real name Marshall Mathers) on October 17, 1972. Eminem's father abandoned the family soon after his birth, leaving Debbie to raise him and his half-brother, Nathan, primarily on her own.
Eminem and his mother shared a tumultuous relationship, which the rapper openly expressed in his music. Tracks like "My Name Is" and "Cleanin' Out My Closet" accused her of neglect and substance abuse, claims she vehemently denied. This discord led to a $10 million defamation lawsuit Debbie filed against her son in 1999, resulting in a $25,000 settlement, most of which went to legal fees.
Despite their public disputes, Debbie defended herself in her 2008 memoir, My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem, stating, "He never knew his father, and I did all I could to make up for it. I wasn't happy when he made up a whole new life for himself."
In 2013, Eminem extended an olive branch through his song "Headlights," where he apologized for their estranged relationship and expressed regret for his harsh words: "That song I no longer play at shows / And I cringe every time it's on the radio." He added, "Mom, please accept this as a tribute."
Their relationship appeared to improve in recent years. Debbie celebrated Eminem's 2022 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with a heartfelt video message: "Marshall, I want to say, I could not let this day go by without congratulating you on your induction... I love you very much. It's been a long ride."
Debbie's story was also loosely depicted in the 2002 film 8 Mile, which chronicled Eminem's struggles growing up in Detroit.
