Eminem’s mother, Debbie Nelson, has reportedly died at the age of 69.
According to reports from TMZ, Nelson passed away on Monday evening in St. Joseph, Missouri, following a battle with advanced lung cancer.
The rapper, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, had a strained relationship with his mother throughout the years since he found fame.
The pair have appeared to have improved their relationship in recent years, with Nelson having congratulated her son for his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
Eminem, 52, had previously alluded to their relationship being rocky on the track ‘My Name Is’ from his 1999 album The Slim Shady LP.
On the track he’d claimed his mother did “more dope than” he did, to which she’d responded with an $11 million lawsuit claiming defamation of character.
Eminem’s lawyer then responded with a statement claiming the lawsuit was a “result of a lifelong strained relationship” between the mother and son.
The lawsuit culminated with Nelson receiving $25,000, most of which went towards her legal fees.
News of Nelson’s health hit the headlines in September when InTouch reported that she was “terminally ill with advanced lung cancer”.
A source said at the time: “There are not many options [for Debbie]. She is currently staying between the cancer center and with family members. She has a very limited amount of time [left].”
The source alleged that Eminem had been helping his mom financially but claimed that he hadn’t been in contact with her or other family members for “years”.
They claimed: “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. It would be good for both of them [to communicate]. This could give them the chance to reconcile.”
Our thoughts remain with the family at this heartbreaking time.
