Eminem’s younger half-brother, Nathan “Nate” Mathers, recently shared an emotional and honest reaction to the news of their mother, Debbie Nelson, passing away.
Debbie, who was the mother of both Eminem and Nate, died on Monday, December 2, at the age of 69 due to lung cancer. Representatives for Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, confirmed the sad news to PEOPLE.
While Eminem has not spoken publicly about his mother’s death, Nate, who is now 38 years old, shared his thoughts on Instagram.
In a brief but revealing post, Nate wrote: “Hatred and mixed emotions today.” This statement shows that Nate’s feelings about his mother are complicated and deeply personal.
For years, fans of Eminem have known about the struggles in his relationship with his mother. Many of his songs include harsh lyrics about his childhood, where he criticized both his upbringing and his parents.
One of his most famous tracks about Debbie is so intense that Eminem no longer performs it at his concerts.
Nate also had a tough time with Debbie. When Nate was just eight years old, he was placed in foster care because their home life was unstable, and their father, Fred Samra, wasn’t around to help.
At the time, Eminem was 23 years old and didn’t have the resources to care for his younger brother, though he wanted to. In a 2004 interview with Rolling Stone, Eminem explained, “When he was taken away, I said to myself, ‘If I ever get in a position where I can take care of him, I will.’” He eventually kept that promise.
When Nate turned 16, Eminem was able to take custody of him, and he worked hard to be a positive influence in his younger brother’s life.
Nate has since expressed deep gratitude for his brother’s support. In an interview on Hailie Jade’s podcast, Just a Little Shady, Nate said, “He was the best role model I could have had to help me become the dad I am today.”
After Debbie’s death, Nate openly admitted to feeling conflicted. He described having “hatred and mixed emotions,” which reflects the challenges and pain he experienced growing up.
Losing a parent can bring up unresolved feelings, especially when the relationship was as complex as theirs.
Despite the difficult times, Eminem and Nate have remained close, with Eminem stepping in to provide stability and guidance when Nate needed it most. This bond has been an important part of Nate’s life and has helped him grow into the person he is today.
Debbie’s death marks the end of a complicated chapter in their family’s history, leaving both brothers to reflect on their past and navigate their emotions during this time.
