Who are Eminem's parents? Relationship explored as rapper's mother, Debbie Nelson, dies aged 69

Singer and rapper Eminem's mother, Debbie Nelson, 67, passed away on December 3, 2024, after a fight with lung cancer. According to TMZ’s December 3 report, Debbie died in St. Joseph, Missouri. As per the same TMZ report, when Debbie's condition was originally made public in September, it was reported that she would not be living for long.

Eminem's mother Debbie married Bruce, Eminem’s father, when she was only 15 and he was 22. Two years later, they had a son, but they divorced soon after. Bruce moved to California, where he began a new family and became the father of two children, while Debbie and the rapper lived between Missouri and Michigan.

Eminem shares an estranged relationship with his parents. Since the rapper became well-known more than 25 years ago, he and his mother have had a tense relationship that has been in the spotlight. On the other hand, shortly after his birth, his father left him.

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Eminem shares a fractured relationship with both his parents

The singer had dissed his mother before (Image via Theo Wargo/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)

As per the same TMZ report, Eminem and his mother had a tumultuous relationship. During his early career, he frequently exposed their issues in songs like Cleanin' Out My Closet, publicly accusing her of being cruel and neglectful.

In the song My Name Is, he further asserted that his mother used “more dope than” him. In response, Debbie filed a $11 million lawsuit against him in the same year, alleging defamation of character.

As per The Mail’s December 2 report, the rapper's attorney then issued a statement on behalf of his client claiming that the lawsuit was the "result of a lifelong strained relationship" between the two. Debbie received $25,000 as a result of the litigation, most of which went to her attorney.

She also wrote My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem, a memoir, in 2007. As per XXL Magazine’s report from the same day, the The Death of Slim Shady singer has allegedly not spoken to his mother in many years, even though he has been reportedly providing her with financial support.

It further said:

“People around her aren't even sure if Eminem is even aware of what is happening to his mother. He's good to his mom. He makes sure he takes care of her, but they don't really talk."

Nevertheless, the two have tried to get back together over time. During his 2013 track Headlights, he expressed regret over his harsh words and apologized to her. Additionally, Debbie also praised his son on his Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2022.

On the other hand, he also had a rocky relationship with his father, who abandoned him shortly after he was born. Nevertheless, as per The Mail's April 15, 2023 report, he was once directly contacted by his father, Marshall Bruce Mathers Jr., in 2001. However, the rapper allegedly refused to listen to him.

Additionally, as per Entertainment News' June 26, 2019 report, he further said that he would write his father letters as a child but they would come back "return to sender." In Cleanin' Out My Closet song, he rapped:

“My fa***t father must've had his panties up in a bunch ‘Cause he split, I wonder if he even kissed me goodbye/ No, I don't, on second thought, I just f**kin' wished he would die."

On the other hand, Bruce spoke out in 2001 and said he had tried to reach out to his son but blamed Eminem's mother for keeping him away. Bruce, who died in 2019, told the Mirror in the same year:

“I desperately want to meet my son and tell him that I love him... I'm not interested in his money. I just want to talk to him. I want him to know that I’m here for him if he lets me back into his life.”

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Nevertheless, following his mother’s death, the singer didn’t say anything about the whole thing.