Mariah Carey, aged 56, has addressed speculation concerning the origins of her longstanding dispute with Eminem, aged 52, specifically the allegation that tensions arose after he offered her the role of his mother in the 2002 motion picture 8 Mile.
The claim was first raised publicly during the summer of 2025 by producer Damion Young, who asserted that Eminem’s approach to Ms. Carey “activated her insecurities” given the minimal age difference between the two artists. Appearing on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Ms. Carey acknowledged that there may be “truth” to the account but minimized its significance. When asked whether this matter ignited the feud, she responded: “No, I mean, maybe, it depends what he’s thinking. I really don’t care. Like, whatever he’s said, then I’m that, fine. Not really. But that’s a rap lyric.”
The role of Eminem’s mother in 8 Mile was ultimately played by actress Kim Basinger, then aged 15 years senior to Ms. Carey. The semi-autobiographical film, which dramatized Eminem’s rise in Detroit’s underground rap scene, won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2003 for Lose Yourself.
According to Mr. Young, he personally facilitated a phone call between Eminem and Ms. Carey after the rapper expressed interest in casting her. He alleged that Eminem’s request—that Ms. Carey portray his mother—led to her declining participation.
The dispute between the two artists, however, extends beyond the casting incident. Reports of a personal relationship surfaced in the early 2000s. Eminem has maintained that the pair dated for approximately six months, whereas Ms. Carey has consistently denied any such relationship. In a 2002 Rolling Stone interview, Eminem stated, “There’s truth to that. But on the whole personal level, I’m not really feeling it. I just don’t like her as a person.”
The disagreement manifested in their music. Eminem referenced Ms. Carey in multiple tracks on his 2002 album The Eminem Show, including Superman and When the Music Stops. Ms. Carey denied his assertions and responded through her own 2002 release Clown. The feud escalated in 2009 when Eminem’s track Bagpipes From Baghdad targeted both Ms. Carey and then-husband Nick Cannon. Ms. Carey countered with Obsessed, prompting Eminem’s retaliatory track The Warning.
The dispute continued intermittently into later years, with Eminem again referencing Ms. Carey in the 2019 Fat Joe track Lord Above. The lyrical exchanges have contributed to one of the most publicized and enduring feuds in the entertainment industry.#newsafro_
