He is known for being a provocateur but Eminem has risked the wrath of millions with his most shocking album ever — in which he calls for himself to be cancelled.
I can’t print most of the lyrics in The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grace) because they are so explicit — and certainly far from politically correct — but I can tell you he takes pops at deaf, blind, transgender, fat, and little people.
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Eminem is stoking the coals of controversy with new album ‘The Death of Slim Shady’Credit: Getty
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Is he trying to be outrageous for the sake of it – to bag an 11th No1 album on FridayCredit: supplied
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The singer repeatedly mocks transgender athlete Caitlyn JennerCredit: Getty
He makes repeated jokes about transgender former athlete Caitlyn Jenner and, on Road Rage, mocks Lizzo.
Em, who loves to stoke the coals of controversy, raps: “Ain’t never really truly over ’til Lizzo sings.
“We should coddle fat people, yeah, here’s a concept. Let’s celebrate onset diabetes and instead of us dieting we can just have a pie-eating contest.”
He makes light of Alec Baldwin and namechecks the cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who the Hollywood actor killed when he inadvertently fired a gun loaded with a live bullet on the set of his film Rust.
And there are references to fellow rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs, aka P Diddy, following multiple sexual assault allegations, which he denies.
Trying to be outrageous
On Fuel, Eminem raps: “I’m like an R-A-P-E-R.
“. . . wait, he didn’t just spell the word rapper and leave out a ‘P’, did he?”
Em has insisted it is a “conceptual album” and I have no doubt he doesn’t really mean the majority of what he says on the record.
On Habits, he uses a derogatory slur for a little person and says he would “drop kick” one if they ever met, before adding at the end: “I’m just playin’, little people — you know I love you.”
Mind you, the same grace isn’t given to some of the other marginalised people he attacks in the lyrics.
Eminem’s daughter Hailie Jade flaunts fit figure in tight leggings & crop top as she celebrates Detroit Lions’ victory
He is trying to be outrageous for the sake of it, and I’m sure it will bag him an 11th No1 album on Friday.
However, in Guilty Conscience 2, he argues with his alter-ego Slim Shady, who he claims is the one spouting the hate, before an outro in which he says he doesn’t mean the slurs on the record.
He says: “I had this dream, it was f**king crazy. It was like, the old me came back . . . and took over my brain and had me saying all this f**ked up s**t about little people and Caitlyn Jenner and PC police were chasing me.
“And f**king Gen Z was tryna kill me, and quadriplegics, and Christopher Reeve, and I was saying all this f**ked up s**t.
“And I couldn’t stop saying it and then I wake and it was like I was still dreaming.”
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He makes light of Alec Baldwin and namechecks the cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who the Hollywood actor killed on the film set of RustCredit: Getty
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In lyrics sure to offend, Eminem raps: ‘Ain’t never really truly over ’til Lizzo sings’Credit: Getty
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On ‘Temporary’, he shares heartfelt advice with his daughter Hailie, imparting everything he wants her to know for when he’s no longer aroundCredit: Instagram/hailiejade
Then towards the end of the record, he finally gets serious.
On the beautiful Temporary, he gives his best live advice as he tells daughter Hailie everything he wants her to know for when he’s no longer alive.
Then in the closing track Somebody Save Me, he gets serious about his much-publicized opioid addiction problem and reflects on what it has taken from him.
He raps: “I don’t even deserve the father title. Hailie, I’m so sorry.
“I know I wasn’t there for your first guitar recital, didn’t walk you down the aisle.
“Missed the birth of your first child, your first podcast.
“Lookin’ down, sweetie, I’m so proud of how you turned out.
“Sorry that I chose drugs and put ’em above you. Sorry that I didn’t love you enough to give ’em up.
“How the f*** do I not love you more than a pill?”
That’s the sort of vulnerability we need from Eminem. The attention-seeking tactics should be left in the Noughties.
Dua’s such a gem
Dua Lipa delivered a sensational set as she headlined the first night of Mad Cool Festival in Madrid.
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Dua Lipa delivered a sensational set as she headlined the first night of Mad Cool Festival in Madrid, aboveCredit: EPA
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In tiny sparkling jewel-encrusted shorts and sequined top and flanked by dancers, she was feeling the love from fansCredit: Supplied
Clearly plenty more people are keen to see her live, as yesterday she sold out her June 2025 Wembley Stadium show in just five minutes.
Dua, whose third album Radical Optimism came out in May, has now added a second show for the next day, June 21.
Fresh from her barnstorming Glastonbury gig last month, she treated the Spanish crowd to a 17-song setlist, kicking off with Training Season and ending with Houdini.
In tiny sparkling jewel-encrusted shorts and sequined top, flanked by dancers she was feeling the love from fans.
The Illusion singer told the hordes: “Every time I step out on these stages, you’re making my dreams come true, so thank you Mad Cool.”
After teaming up with Kylie Minogue and Roisin Murphy for her most recent album, Jessie Ware revealed last summer she was keen to get in the recording studio with Cher.
And now she is going all out to make sure the legendary singer notices her.
Jessie put on the show of her life at Nos Alive in Lisbon, Portugal, where she sang Cher’s 1998 hit Believe – much to the excitement of her fans. Performing in the early hours of yesterday morning, the London-born singer also belted out tracks from her latest album That! Feels! Good! with the crowd going wild for her songs Running and Spotlight.
Dua Lipa performed late last night at the festival, with US rockers Pearl Jam on stage today.
It’s a sure-fire sun-kissed scorcher.
Beck’s a gold star
Becky Hill has never looked or sounded better.
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Becky Hill has had a massive summer of gigs and today jets off to the US for shows across America
The double Brit Award winner wore this sexy metallic gold dress for the new music video for her song Multiply, taken from her brilliant second album Believe Me Now?
Becky has had a massive summer of gigs and today jets off to the US for shows across America before spending most of August on the road closer to home.
As well as playing festivals including Boardmasters, Summer Sessions and Big Feastival, the singer will finish up with shows at Dreamland in Margate on August 31 and September 1.
You are killing it, Becky.
Big Brother host AJ Odudu led a host of stars at the Evian suite at Wimbledon this week.
Over the past few days, everyone from Central Cee to Charli XCX has been spotted enjoying the swanky area. We spotted singer Mimi Webb, who is set to drop new single Erase You in a matter of weeks, bonding with rapper Stormzy there, as they gave each other a fist bump.
Ellie hopes for appy ever after
She has been busy transforming herself into Kate Moss in recent weeks to film a new TV series about the supermodel’s life.
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Ellie Bamber’s profile has been found on the celebrity dating app RayaCredit: Instagram
But when Ellie Bamber isn’t on set, she’s swiping through Raya to try to find her dream man.
A mate of mine stumbled across Ellie’s profile on the celebrity dating app.
On her page Ellie, below, describes herself as an actor living in London and shares photographs of herself walking around a vineyard with a glass of plonk, a fun Instagram shot of her chomping on cake and another glamorous picture from Piaget’s red carpet party in Paris last month.
Describing herself as a fan of cars, books, art, and dancing, Ellie has Wesley Joseph’s Sugar Dive as her profile’s song.
Ellie split from Bodyguard hunk Richard Madden in 2019 and is thought to have been single ever since.
Whoever gets to score a date with her is definitely a lucky bloke.
Unfortunately, she didn’t swipe right on my poor pal.
Better luck next time.
CHARTS
Sabrina Carpenter has knocked her own song off the top spot.
Espresso is back at No1 for a sixth week, following three weeks in pole position for her latest single Please Please Please.
Over on the album charts, Kasabian have scored their seventh No1 with their latest record Happenings.
SINGLES
- Espresso – Sabrina Carpenter
Please Please Please – Sabrina Carpenter
A Bar Song (Tipsy) – Shaboozey
Birds Of A Feather – Billie Eilish
Good Luck Babe – Chappell Roan
Stargazing – Myles Smith
Houdini – Eminem
I Had Some Help – Post Malone ft Morgan Wallen
Not Like Us – Kendrick Lamar
Austin – Dasha
ALBUMS
- Happenings – Kasabian
The Tortured Poets Department – Taylor Swift
Hit Me Hard And Soft – Billie Eilish
Brat – Charli XCX
The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess – Chappell Roan
The Highlights – The Weeknd
Curtain Call: The Hits – Eminem
50 Years: Don’t Stop – Fleetwood Mac
Stick Season – Noah Kahan
Lover – Taylor Swift
