Eminem is no stranger to controversy of any kind, nor is dealing with accusations of homophobia a novel experience for the 41-year-old performer. So it stands to reason that with new accusations of anti-gay slander recently surfacing, Marshall Mathers has dealt with it in a reserved manner.
Despite coming out in support of gay marriage, maintaining a friendship with Elton John, and repeatedly denying he hates gays when asked by reporters, Em recently explained himself to Rolling Stone in response to recent homophobia accusations stemming from the lyrics of his track, Rap God.
“I don’t know how to say this without saying it how I’ve said it a million times,” he began, “But that word, those kind of words, when I came up battle-rappin’ or whatever, I never really equated those words [to actually mean homosexual].”
“It was more like calling someone a bitch or a punk or asshole,” Em continued. “So that word was just thrown around so freely back then. It goes back to that battle, back and forth in my head, of wanting to feel free to say what I want to say, and then [worrying about] what may or may not affect people.”
The rapper also took the opportunity to once again reiterate his feelings towards the LGBT community, saying:
“The real me sitting here right now talking to you has no issues with gay, straight, transgender, at all. I’m glad we live in a time where it’s really starting to feel like people can live their lives and express themselves.”
The offending lyrics in Rap God include a couplet in which the hip-hop legend uses ‘gay’ as an insult, rapping:
“Little gay lookin’ boy / So gay I can barely say it with a straight face lookin’, boy /You witnessing a massacre / Like you watching a church gathering take place, lookin’ boy / Oy vey, that boy’s gay, that’s all they say looking, boy”
And the line, “I’ll still be able to break a motherfuckin’ table / Over the back of a couple of faggots and crack it in half“. Readers can listen to Rap God in its entirety, below. Eminem will be heading Down Under with Kendrick Lamar and a massive supporting cast next year for Rapture Festival.
(Via Rolling Stone)
Watch: Eminem – Rap God
