Eminem’s younger half-brother Nathan ‘Nate’ Mathers has shared a raw and unforgiving reaction to his mother Debbie Nelson’s death.
Yesterday it was confirmed that Debbie, who is mother to legendary rapper Eminem and his half-brother, had passed away at the age of 69 due to lung cancer on Monday (2 December).
Representatives of the 52-year-old rapper later confirmed the news of Debbie’s death to PEOPLE.
Debbie passed away this week aged 69 (Mark Weiss/Getty Images)
The rapper – real name Marshal Mathers – is yet to comment publicly about his mother’s death, however his younger half-brother Nate hasn’t held back when it comes to sharing his opinion.
Taking to Instagram stories, the 38-year-old shared a brief statement following the news of his mother’s death, writing: “Hatred and mixed emotions today.”
What was Debbie Nelson’s relationship with Eminem and his younger brother like?
Fans of the rapper will be more than aware that Eminem and Nate didn’t have the most stable of relationships with their mother.
Several of Eminem’s tracks feature brutal digs towards his childhood and parents, with one diss track aimed towards Debbie now considered so scathing that the rapper refuses to perform it live at shows.
When it comes to the relationship between Debbie and Nate things appear to be even more complicated, as he was ultimately placed in foster care at the age of eight.
Nate’s father Fred Samra was also said to not be around during his childhood.
Eminem, who was 23 at the time, attempted to gain custody but was unable to and vowed to try again if he ever had the means to do so.
“When he was taken away I always said if I ever get in a position to take him, I would take him,” the rapper said in a 2004 interview with Rolling Stone.
“Man, if I get in position, I’m gonna stop all this s***.’ And I got in position and did”
He would later gain custody of his Nate when he was 16 years old and has since been a positive role model to his younger brother.
Nate spoke about his relationship with his older brother in an episode of his niece Hailie Jade’s podcast Just a Little Shady, praising the rapper for the positive influence he had in his life.
“He was the best role model I could have had to help me be the dad that I am today,” he said of their relationship.
