Eminem is often at the center of controversy for his often inflammatory lyrics — that’s nothing new. But apparently some Gen Z’ers are just catching up and were aghast to hear Slim Shady rap, “If you fucking leave again I’m strap you to this bed and set the house on fire” on his 2010 smash hit “Love The Way You Lie” featuring Rihanna.
So on Tuesday (March 2), Em became a trending Twitter topic after countless people tried to “cancel” Eminem on TikTok and the millennials fought back. Their valiant effort to protect Shady’s name included a now-viral video of a TikTok user “rapping” over an instrumental version of Dr. Dre’s “Forgot About Dre” featuring Em.
“Did you hear Gen Z is canceling Eminem?” the video begins. “Gen Z. They’re trying to cancel Eminem. Yeah.” From there, the woman launches into a full-on lyrical assault aimed at the “little kiddies” with lines such as “Let me make this quite clear/This man was around even before you were here/So what? You’re all mad? Cuz the man was a lyricist? While all your rappers are mumbling gibberish?”
Wait… Gen Z is trying to cancel Eminem? ? pic.twitter.com/2966u7EjF5
— HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) March 2, 2021
In another popular TikTok clip, a man plays both a Gen Z’er and millennial and makes a pretty convincing case for leaving Eminem alone.
Gen Z: “We need to cancel Eminem.”
Millennials: “Why?”
Gen Z: “His lyrics are terrible.”
Millennials: “And this coming from the marble-mouthed mumble rap generation?”
Gen Z: “Have you heard his lyrics?”
Millennials: “Heard ’em? I was raised screaming them all through grade school.”
Gen Z: “Just imagine if he dropped those lyrics now.”
Millennials: “Yeah, but he didn’t though, so…he’s still better than the skiddily, skeet skirt stuff you got now.”
Gen Z: “All his lyrics, full of hate.”
Millennials: “And so is my angsty little teenage soul, but look at me now. I turned out fine.”
Gen Z: “Did you though?”
Millennials: “Hmm, fair point. But whatever, leave Em alone.”
Omg, I will NEVER CANCEL @Eminem. I hope you see this?? pic.twitter.com/m6xuaSGwoN
— GiaKJ (@i_dunnodude) March 2, 2021
But that was just the beginning. The millennials came out in droves to defend Shady with one person writing “Since Eminem is trending, let’s bring this back … if you are easily frightened by loud noises or offended by explicit lyrics you shouldn’t be here.”
Another noted, “Since Eminem is trending let me remind y’all that he is the first artist in history to have 10 consecutive no.1 albums on the billboard 200 and he reached this achievement last year with his album music to be murdered by. legend shit me thinks.”
Check out some of the other reactions below.
Since Eminem is trending, let's bring this back… pic.twitter.com/TS5Qhx3avy
— Michele2424 (@Michele24242) March 2, 2021
twitter: we should cancel eminem cause he influenced all the trash white rappers today ?
gen z on tik tok: we should cancel eminem cause of his controversial disgusting lyrics ?
meanwhile Eminem: pic.twitter.com/wsQGW9LiW8
— Shady Times (@ShadyTimes) March 2, 2021
Gen Z trying to cancel EMINEM#Eminem : pic.twitter.com/vQhJJzds55
— THE GENIUS REY (@READYEVERYYEAR) March 2, 2021
I’m just gonna leave this here #Eminem pic.twitter.com/owe2J52AlJ
— Amarely ? (@Amarely2016) March 2, 2021
its crazy how this man can do absolutely nothing and still get on trending, Eminem really lives rent free in so many heads pic.twitter.com/fhD4IS5fdY
— brown (@BrownRapFan) March 2, 2021
look at what you fucking guys did. You cancelled eminem so hard he’s crying pic.twitter.com/lzhE4kpzOv
— JACK (@JackCrackUser) March 2, 2021
gen z not realizing that eminem thrives on being cancelled pic.twitter.com/NeUpeEm19H
— AzraelsAim (@AzraelsAim) March 2, 2021
Eminem: get cancelled for the 3464562345234 time
everyone: pic.twitter.com/BpTyLLlDlQ
— Chunky (@Chunky620) March 3, 2021
Eminem will NEVER be canceled. Get outta here Gen Z #Eminem pic.twitter.com/Nmjk7JoL1g
— Taryn (@tdibs) March 3, 2021
When Gen Z wants to cancel Eminem pic.twitter.com/uyETpcjRsC
— Josh (@Rosetat1399) March 3, 2021
My friend: I don’t like Eminem
Me: pic.twitter.com/DH5R0l6vwX— Chidinma Nwoye (@ChidinmaNwoye3) March 2, 2021
Eminem will not be cancelled. Come at me Z's. pic.twitter.com/8kuCqlhy1n
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) March 3, 2021
i hope eminem's okay ?? pic.twitter.com/75rtnEDWga
— following stupid bitches (@followingbtches) March 3, 2021
Who is out here trying to fight zoomers. Just leave them alone man, the ice caps are gonna be completely melted before half of them are even out of college. Let them cancel eminem or whatever. Who cares
— GG Allin Turing (@dubsteppenwolf) March 3, 2021
#GenZ you can't cancel someone who can't be cancelled more powerful people have tried and failed. #Eminem #GenZ pic.twitter.com/fU62lFu7Sv
— Vanessa Jors ? (@NessaJ785) March 3, 2021