Niamh Shackleton
Eminem's half-brother has spoken out online following their mother's death.
It was announced yesterday (December 3) that Debbie Nelson, the mother of Grammy Award-winning rapper Eminem, has passed away at the age of 69.
The rapper's reps confirmed to the news to both PEOPLE and TMZ, with Debbie passing away on Monday (December 2) from complications relating to lung cancer.
Eminem - whose real name is Marshall Mathers III - had a turbulent relationship with his mother and had even called her out in some of her songs, sparking Debbie to sue her son for $10 million.
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The suit was regarding a line in his 1999 song 'My Name Is', where Eminem alleged that his mom 'smokes more dope than I do'.
Debbie's lawsuit was successful, but she ended up with $25,000 rather than the hefty sum she'd asked for. Most of this went on legal fees, however, meaning she was said to have been left with less than $2,000.
However, the pair's relationship appeared to have improved, as in 2022, Debbie congratulated Eminem on his induction to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, while the musician apologised to his mother in the song 'Headlights' for the 2002 track he released called 'Cleanin' Out My Closet', which he no longer performs at his concerts.
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As well as being Eminem's mom, Debbie was also mother to Nathan Kane Mathers - who is the rapper's half brother.
Like his famous sibling, it's believed that Nathan - who goes by Nate - also had a strained relationship with his mother during her life.
Following the news of her death, Nate took to his Instagram Story to seemingly address her passing, writing: "Hatred and mixed emotions today."
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Eminem has yet to respond to the news of his mother's passing.
Nate is 13 years younger than Eminem and was placed in foster care at the age of eight, says PEOPLE.
With their large age difference in mind, the rapper had hoped he would be eligible 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 told Rolling Stone in 2004.
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"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."
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It wasn't until Nate was 16 that he was able to gain custody of him.
Speaking on Eminem's daughter's podcast last year, Nate hailed his brother as 'the best role model'.
Nate said at the time: "He was the best role model I could have had to help me be the dad that I am today."