Debbie Nelson, the mother of renowned rapper Eminem, has reportedly passed away at the age of 69.
Sources informed TMZ that Nelson, who had been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer earlier this year, passed away last night in Missouri.
Eminem, born Marshall Mathers, and his family have not yet commented publicly on the news.
Debbie Nelson, originally from Kansas, had a turbulent relationship with her eldest son, whom she welcomed in 1972 with her first husband, Marshall Bruce Mathers.
She later had a second son, Nathan Samra-Mathers, in 1986 with Fred Samra Jr.
In her book, ‘My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem,’ Debbie reflected on the early days of Eminem’s life, describing him as a captivating child: “From the moment he was born, my son Marshall was a beautiful actor. He knew exactly how to look at me from under his long dark eyelashes and put on a show.”
Their strained relationship became a recurring theme in Eminem’s music.
On his debut album, The Slim Shady LP, he openly criticized his mother, particularly in the 1999 track ‘My Name Is.’
He also addressed their issues in the 2002 song ‘Cleanin’ Out My Closet.’
In 1999, Debbie filed an $11 million defamation lawsuit against her son over his lyrics. ABC News reported that she was awarded $25,000, of which she kept approximately $1,600 after legal fees.
In 2013, Eminem apologized to his mother in his song ‘Headlights,’ rapping, “And I’m mad I didn’t get the chance to thank you for being my mom and my dad. So Mom, please accept this as a tribute I wrote on this jet.”
Eminem has not yet commented on his mother’s passing, which comes five years after his father died of a heart attack at the age of 67.
Her cause of death is alleged to be cancer.
