Eminem's Brother Nathan Mathers Shares Emotions After Mother's Passing
Eminem's half-brother, Nathan "Nate" Mathers, shared his deep feelings on social media shortly after their mother’s death, PEOPLE reported. On December 3, Nathan, 38, posted a stark message on his Instagram Stories reflecting his tumultuous emotions: "Hatred and mixed emotions today." This followed the passing of Debbie Nelson, confirmed by a representative for Eminem (real name Marshall Mathers III), who was 52 at the time.
Debbie Nelson succumbed to complications from lung cancer in St. Joseph, Missouri on December 2 at the age of 69. Sources first reported her illness back in September.
Debbie welcomed Nathan with her boyfriend, Fred Samra, when Eminem was 13 years old. Eminem, himself a prominent music figure, was born following Debbie's marriage to Marshall Mathers Jr. at 16. This relationship, however, ended when Eminem was just a baby due to his father's abandonment.
Eminem became Nathan's legal guardian when Nathan was 16 years old. Prior to that, Nathan spent nearly ten years in foster care. Eminem expressed his emotional journey in a 2004 "Rolling Stone" interview, recounting the day Nathan was taken from school. He stated that seeing Nathan move was heartbreaking. He contrasted their childhoods and voiced a strong desire to care for his brother.
Eminem's journey to secure custody of Nathan unfolded against a backdrop of complex family dynamics. He had a famously rocky relationship with their mother, which occasionally resulted in public grievances, including references in early songs. Notably, his 2002 track "Cleanin' Out My Closet" prompted Debbie to file a defamation lawsuit against him.
Despite these challenges, Nathan looked back on his relationship with Eminem fondly. Now married with three children, Nathan described his older brother as an exemplary father figure. During a discussion on Hailie Jade's podcast, "Just a Little Shady," in February 2023, he remarked, "He was the best role model I could have had to help me be the dad that I am today."
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