Grindr pulled an “I don’t know her” on Eminem after the rapper swapped out Tinder for Grindr in his version of the popular Dolly Parton Challenge.
Here’s Em’s tweet, showing the photos he could use as profile pics on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Grindr — the last of which is a 1999 David LaChapelle portrait of a nude Slim Shady gripping a suggestively placed stick of dynamite.
Did I do this right? pic.twitter.com/ZkoV5T4yxB
— Marshall Mathers (@Eminem) January 24, 2020
And here’s Grindr’s one-word clapback: “Who?”
— Grindr (@Grindr) January 24, 2020
Twitter users loved the diss, with multiple commenting, “Drag him.”
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This isn’t the “Lose Yourself” performer’s first run-in with Grindr: In a 2017 Vulture interview, he said he finds dates on both Tinder and Grindr, a claim his representative then had to walk back.
Anyway, Em’s history of homophobic lyrics is probably the reason Grindr has an ax to grind(r). He has dropped the f-word gay slur on many occasions, most recently in 2018 in reference to Tyler, the Creator.
“It’s astonishing, really, that after 30 years in the game Eminem, who began rapping when he was 14, still hasn’t found a new insult,” The Independent’s Roisin O’Connor observed at the time.
Related: Weirdly enough, Elton John doesn’t think Eminem is homophobic
In the same Vulture interview, however, the 15-time Grammy winner contended he doesn’t have a homophobic bone in his body:
So when I started getting flack for it, I thought, Alright, you people think I’m homophobic? Watch this. Hence the Ken Kaniff character and all that stuff. I was trying to push the buttons of people who were calling me something that I wasn’t. The honest-to-God truth is that none of that matters to me: I have no issue with someone’s sexuality, religion, race, none of that. Anyone who’s followed my music knows I’m against bullies — that’s why I hate that f*cking bully Trump.
Me2
I don’t get it. Why is he on Grindr? Can someone make it make sense.
C_Alan
He didn’t post the picture on Grindr. He participated in a challenge on Twitter. The article headline wanted to make you think he had a Grindr account so you would click on it.
Read this: “…after the rapper swapped out Tinder for Grindr in his version of the popular Dolly Parton Challenge. Here’s Em’s tweet, showing the photos he could use as profile pics on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Grindr”
Dymension
Um, whatever.
ShiningSex
I’m sure his firecracker is smaller and a dud
iminheatlikeacat
JFC Eminem, just come out already and if by some weird turn of events that it turns out you’re not gay, then stop being so obsessed with gay men. You are almost 50 years old and it’s embarrassing, along with the fact that you still bleach your hair like it’s the 90’s.
ScottOnEarth
As if the losers who run the cesspool known as Grindr are in a position to judge anyone.
ElPillo
Too tight a hair bun?
Mack
Mehhhh just another closet case.
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
It seems none of you or the gay media overall saw his “Without Me” video where he actually does drag and switches while in that short skirt. I like him (even though I think he CAN’T rap and there was more to him and Dr. Dre than a business relationship).
rray63
Sorry been saying it for years, he is as gay as the rest of us on here. That’s why he presents such a homophobic image in public. He’s never learned to deal with who and what he is, so he’s still playing the game. You’d think in his industry he would have gotten over himself long ago but no one can answer why people take this long or that long.
xanadude
A lot of people have changed Tinder to Grindr–especially gay guys who wouldn’t be caught dead on Tinder– who cares? And you know EMINEM is a character, right? Lyrics to a song/rap don’t necessarily mean the artist feels that way. And times/attitudes change. Or do we not want them to?
Donston
I’m not quick to dismiss his hateful shit just because it was years ago and he counters every homophobic thing with something “gay friendly”. I don’t even really care if he’s “gay”. The dude spent years promoting male homophobia. He rapped about beating up dudes who looked at his crotch. Even back then I knew it was likely trolling. However, all those young dudes in school who idolized this guy probably didn’t know that. And if he is closeted he’s just another male queer who indulges toxic masculinity, contends with internalized homophobia and lashes out because he can’t understand or get comfortable with his passions, affections and love. I’m tired of giving those dudes passes.
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
Donston, why didn’t you mention something about the genre of music he’s in and what it promotes? Being the businessman that he is it wouldn’t shock me if Dr. Dre hooked up with him for reasons that had nothing to do with music and some how the thought came to him that with a little coaching he just might have a hundred million dollar twink laying next to him. All he would have to do is teach this white boy how to rock, look mean, set up a few “incidents” where he does the same thing a black rapper does (he was arrested for pistol whipping some one) and see where it goes. I’ll be even you wouldn’t find that too far fetched to believe. Now that record sales are dwindling (and not just for him its happening to every one regardless of genre) what other audience is there to pump? Rest assured Bruce Jenner no doubt looked at it the same way. Keep pumping them until the checks stop coming in and thats just what he’s doing (and the publicity makes it all well worth it).
Donston
I don’t feel any way towards Em. And his post was lame more than anything else. But it does seem like there’s a good amount of “queer males” who are quick to defend extremely “problematic”, seemingly heterosexual/straight/hetero-leaning guys. Sometimes those guys speak with reason. But a lot of the times it seems more driven by straight worship, internalized homophobia, homo/homo-leaning inferiority complexes. Like I said, I don’t feel any type of way towards Em. And I do recall having a bit of a crush on him when I was younger. However, I see through a lot of these dudes who quickly put on their cape for straight and non-gay identifying guys.
I wouldn’t be shocked if Em was “queer” or even in all intents and purposes “gay” (aka overall homo-leaning romantically, sexually, emotionally, affection wise, relationship wise). All his issues towards women, his obsession with constantly getting the “gays’ attention, having a damn years long beef with Mariah Carey- it would all make sense. But really, he just needs to chill out. He’s starting to become lame.
Rock-N-RollHS
I don’t know why when I see your posts, I think of the adult voices on the Peanuts’ cartoons. . .
Donston
My posts only trigger the basics. Get out yo’ feelings or skip past my posts. Pretty simple.
Jussie_Racist_Clown
Donston, your posts are trying too hard to sound street-cred ghetto. “I don’t feel any type of way towards Em”. I think you’re a 50’s year old white guy in Cincinatti. That’s what I think. But, dude, I don’t feel any type of way toward you. Cause personally, I don’t need the cred. Damn.
Donston
I’m actually black and 31 years old. But even if I was 50 and white my points would still stand.
Rock-N-RollHS
He’s making fun of social media. And I think it’s pretty funny.
dmanhart
Same here. I abhor rap, but he isn’t homophobic. The great Elton John thinks his songs are funny. Some people get their panties in a bunch unnecessarily.
Donston
People can look back and laugh at it now. However, during the peak of his popularity his homophobic lyrics made an impression. I was in school at the time. I saw the influence firsthand. I don’t harbor resentment towards him. But I’m also not going to dismiss his past and pretend like what he did wasn’t damaging. While that brand of casual homo shaming and toxic masculinity is still abundant, even among “queers”,
Donston
I was a semi fan of Em’s music growing up. I could recognize even then that a lot of what he was presenting was trolling and persona. I even had a minor crush on him. But I can also admit that what he did was cheap and definitely compacted issues. So, it has nothing to do with my panties. I’m just looking at this honestly. Unlike Elton John, I got too much self-respect to fall in line because I want to be seen as “cool”.
jlogb
Grindr is such a guilty pleasure…. who cares about another closeted bigot. I have heard for years he likes a little slim in his shady! Sooo John David
masterwill7
Do you guys ever get a joke? Eminem has already joked about being gay, not for bashing, just to inlude.. He also came out of the closet himself in the film about Kim Jung Un, just as a joke.. He is not homophobic, he’s making a laugh with this dolly parton thing on social media.. And no, I’m def not a Eminem fan, but a homophobe doesn’t show himself as a gay man anywhere.. Just a joke, maybe you like it, maybe you don’t.
Abraxas020
I agree
rikard_pearson
i encounter plenty of self loathing homosexuals usually from christian , or macho latino backgrounds on grindr. finding one from rap and hip-hop isn’t a surprise.
KiwiJello
Having been on Grindr recently, I think he nailed it. Looks like a lot of the pics on there. He isn’t wrong, even if he says homophobic things to get attention and sell records.
sonic_source
I’ve always thought Eminem is wildly funny and a talented rapper. I’ve never felt he’s truly homophobic, I think he just abuses that “ultra-macho” crap to sell records…unfortunately, I don’t like him enough to actually buy any of his records.
batesmotel
Love the Eminem post it’s brilliant and so is he.
IWantAFullBeard
He is one of the best rappers alive. I don’t really care (or follow) anything else about him.
On the flip side, Lil Nas X is awful and some people love him because he is gay.
I pick my music by the sound, nothing else.
IWantAFullBeard
To be fair, Tyler the Creator called himself a f*ggot. Eminem just said that he knows why Tyler called himself a f*ggot.
nickedbeater
Washed-up Wigger from 20 years ago?