Eminem faces backlash after referencing Megan Thee Stallion shooting in new song

Eminem drew the ire of the internet this weekend after releasing a new single referencing rapper Tory Lanez's shooting of Megan Thee Stallion in the foot in 2020.

“If I were to ask Megan Thee Stallion if she would collaborate with me/Would I really have a chance of achieving something?” » Eminem raps from the first minute of “Houdini”. (“Feat” is short for “feature.”)

Eminem, real name Marshall Mathers, appears to be mocking the July 2020 shooting that left Megan Thee Stallion (Megan Pete) with a foot injury and Tory Lanez sentenced to 10 years in prison. The retort did not go down well with social media users, who criticized him for making light of gender-based violence and targeting a black woman in his words.

“Being 51 and taking photos of Megan Thee Stallion? Out of contact”, a user posted on.

Another user condemned the line, noting that June is Black Music Month: “Is it too much to ask that as we enter Black Music Month in just a few days, people don't allow Eminem to making fun of Megan, a BW who was a victim of gun violence, being targeted in a song by a white rapper? People are too comfortable disrespecting black women.

“Houdini” is the first single from Eminem’s upcoming album, “The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grace).” The song's superhero-themed video appears to be an homage to his 2002 video for “Without Me” and includes celebrity cameos from Snoop Dogg, Pete Davidson, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent and Shane Gillis. In addition to mentioning Megan Thee Stallion, Eminem names R. Kelly, Ru Paul and Sherri Papini, a California woman who faked her own kidnapping in 2016.

Some social media users came to Eminem's defense, pointing out that the Detroit rapper has long been known for his provocative lyrics.

“If you're offended by Megan thee Stallion's line in Eminem's movie #Houdini, you clearly don't understand/know who Slim Shady is — the point is that he's making fun of everyone. It's not that deep and it's a good line. This is not a dispute,” one person wrote in an article on X.

Another words lmao.”

Megan Thee Stallion and Eminem did not respond to a request for comment from NBC News. Neither has publicly addressed the online discussions.

Megan Thee Stallion's shooting has also been the subject of rap lyrics from musicians like Drake and Nicki Minaj over the years. It also spurred nationwide debates about gender-based violence against black women. Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, was convicted on three counts and sentenced to 10 years in prison in December 2022.

Megan Thee Stallion recently announced that her third album, “MEGAN,” is set to be released on June 28.

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