He says that “you f*gs think it’s all a game.”
He’d also like to say that “all you lil’ fag*ots can suck it / No homo, but I’ma stick it to ’em like refrigerator magnets.”
Those are just a few readily available examples of Eminem‘s lyrical preoccupation with the gay community, which has been consistently problematic for almost two decades.
Related: Eminem Comes Out In The Interview: “I Am A Homosexual”
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Nevertheless, Sir Elton John really doesn’t think Eminem is homophobic at all, if recent comments he made during Apple’s Beat 1 show are to be believed.
The 70-year-old pop icon says he’s “always a supporter of the people that are getting trashed,” and he’s never been particularly offended by Eminem’s lyrics.
Talking to interview Zane Lowe, he said:
“I listened to the whole of The Marshall Mathers LP when I drove to a show in South Hampton and I was floored by it.
And I thought how could anyone think this is… he’s just writing about the way things are.”
Related: Pro-Gay Eminem’s New Music Is Full Of Antigay Slurs Just Like His Old Music
In case you don’t have the album currently cued up on your Technics turntable, it contains songs like “Criminal,” in which Eminem casually crows:
My words are like a dagger with a jagged edge /
That’ll stab you in the head, whether you’re a f*g or lez /
Or the homosex, hermaph, or a trans-a-vest /
Pants or dress, hate f*gs?
The answer’s “yes.”
Homophobic?
Nah, you’re just heterophobic.
Elton’s John’s charitable interpretation of Eminem’s lyrics is probably due to the fact that the performers are friends: Apparently John even came by to offer support when Eminem was recovering from drug addiction.
“Never in a million years did I think he was homophobic,” he says.
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Nor Axl Rose, for that matter.
“So I did things. I did the MTV Music Awards with him and Guns N’ Roses and I did the Grammys with Marshall and I became very big friends with Marshall.
“I’ll fight for anyone who is misunderstood and misrepresented by the idiots out there.”
So maybe we’ve totally misunderstood what Eminem’s talking about in “Rap God” when he says he wants to break “a table over the back of a couple faggots and crack it in half.”
Maybe he’s being a big flirt.
h/t: Pink News
crowebobby
Don’t know if he’s homophobic, but I’m pretty sure he’s homosexual . . . and very doable. Or at least was in his youth.
Chris
If his deeds counter his words; then I’ll go with the deeds. I think that is the same point being made by Elton John.
natekerchel
I think that words and deeds are not so different in possible impact terms. It seems odd to me that someone can say such disturbing things but then claim its ok because they don’t act on it. What people say may have repercussions they never took into consideration – especially if the person is regarded as influential in some way. Disturbed/deranged people may use those words to commit horrific acts of violence for example. We see this at work right now in the USA and around the world as hate crimes reach new high levels because of the hate speeches from people like trump. So words and deeds are very much linked – even if that was not the intention.
IDoNotHaveToAgreeWithYou
Elton has been trying to hump his leg for years and clearly he isn’t interested.
pudman56
So, I guess if you use this kind of “critical thinking” then Rush Limbaugh isn’t a homophobe because Elton played at his wedding. I’ve lost count of the number of weddings, but I do know that Elton played at his last one. Sorry, no need or excuse for that one when you’re representing the entire gay community.
Sluggo2007
Who cares? It’s Eminem, for God’s sake! He’s a washed up black thug wannabe.
Jack Meoff
I think this article tells us more about Elton than it does about eminem. The biggest issue here that EJ doesn’t address is the people who listen to eminems crap and then go out and act on it by being homophobic or bashing gays. I have never been a fan of either of these guys anyway.
jess_lopez
Shame on Elton John. He is a celebrity and he has a battalion of security personnel who always protects him. Ordinary gay people do not have bodyguards to protect themselves from gay bashers and other hate criminals who are influenced by homophobic and hateful music.
Captain Obvious
If he was black there would be at least 30 comments full of vitriol but since he’s white we just get luke warm responses and even compliments on his looks. Ugh.
natekerchel
I agree with your comments – and in my own defense, my response was very clear – he is being homophobic and encouraging possible physical consequences. I don’t feel the need to be vitriolic when I can make my point without it. It makes absolutely no difference to me what racial group the homophobes come from – all of them are repulsive. As for comments on his looks – well I did find that a bit strange as it added nothing relevant or even interesting.
Ken A.
Na, not homophobic. It’s all good. I’m not into his music, though.
Me2
Why is Elton John still analyzing Eminem’s lyrics in 2017? What’s the obsession? It’s no secret that most of hip-hop culture is anti-gay. Applying multiple interpretations to blatant hatred is not going to change it.
surreal33
Well, Eminem (small dick douche bag) probably let Elton John, suck his dick, therefore, all is forgiven.
Sluggo2007
I have heard, many times, that his dick is minuscule.
DCguy
People in the creative industry have this weird blind spot, if they respect somebody’s talent they bend over backwards to explain away any other issues.
Woody Allen
Mel Gibson
Roman Polanski
Etc… There is always some reason that people like Elton John, Woopy Goldberg, Jodie Foster, and everybody who’s appeared in recent Woody Allen movies, will find to explain away or forgive.
Donston
Yes, but there is a way to respect someone’s talent while still acknowledging their problematic behavior or “art”.
I used to be a fan of Em, so I’ve also had to do some compartmentalizing, but to say he’s words and, in particular, the people who absorb his words and treat it as gospel isn’t an issue is just stupid. Then again, though I like some of his songs Elton has always come off a hetero worshipping queen to me. He probably had a crush on Em and had a hard-on for his “bad-boy” image. So, the fact that Eminem was willing to talk to him and work with him was probably good enough to absolve whatever issues.
As far as whether Em is/was homophobic or not, I’ve always thought he was less a homophobe and misogynist and more of narcissistic attention-whore and gays, at that point, were an easy target that would net some controversy but still be an acceptable punching bag. The nature of hip-hop made it easier for him to get away with it as well.
Ultimately, this sh*t is old as hell.