Eminem has made a heartfelt gesture following the death of his mother, Debbie Nelson. While performing at the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix on December 7, the rapper chose not to recite the infamous line “f–k you, Debbie” from his 2002 hit song “Without Me.”
Instead, Eminem allowed the audience to fill in the lyrics, sparking speculation among fans. Some believe this omission was a subtle tribute to his late mother, with whom he had a complicated relationship. However, others pointed out that Eminem has not recited this line in public performances for decades.
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“Without Me” was written during Eminem’s highly publicized legal battle with his mother in the early 2000s. The song’s lyrics contain scathinging criticisms of Nelson, who sued Eminem for defamation over his portrayal of her alleged drug use in his 1999 album The Slim Shady LP.
In recent years, Eminem appeared to have made amends with his mother. In a 2011 interview with BET, he expressed love and understanding for Nelson, saying, “Even though we don’t really speak, she is my mother, I do love her.” Eminem later apologized to Nelson in his 2013 song “Headlights,” acknowledging the hurt he caused her with his past lyrics.
