It’s an understatement to say that Eminem doesn’t get papped very often. Most of the photos our agencies do have show Em onstage and doing what he does best. I did scrounge up a 2011 street picture of him, which is included at the bottom of this post. Right now Eminem is doing the rounds to promote Marshall Mathers LP 2, which came out at midnight/this morning. Will he top Katy and Miley’s recent releases? I sure as hell hope so, but he’s not exactly pimping himself all over the place, so we’ll see.
Eminem did appear on this weekend’s episode of SNL (the one with Kerry Washington). You can see some skit clips at Pajiba or view the full episode here. TMZ is riding Eminem hard with claims of lipsynching during his “Berzerk” song. They have a brief clip which is “evidence” that Em was phoning it in Milli Vanilli style. This is such a non-controversy. The song contains a lot of sampling, and Em moves the mic from his mouth during most of the Beastie Boys/Billy Squier moments. He occasionally mouths along with their brief lyrics. That much is obvious. His own lyrics, however, are coming straight from his mouth. TMZ is full of it. This was the sixth time Em appeared in SNL, and he brought it like he usually does.
Eminem also has a new interview with Rolling Stone that discusses his use of anti-gay slurs in his lyrics. This is a tough issue because Em has endorsed gay marriage and has become BFF with Elton John, but he continues to use the “f” word and other such gay slurs … especially in his new “Rap God” song. Here’s what Em said in defense:
You’ve made it clear again and again that you don’t actually have a problem with gay people. So why, in 2013, use “f—-t” on that song? Why use “gay-looking” as an insult? “I don’t know how to say this without saying it how I’ve said it a million times. But that word, those kind of words, when I came up battle-rappin’ or whatever, I never really equated those words …”
To actually mean “homosexual”? “Yeah. It was more like calling someone a bitch or a punk or a-hole. So that word was just thrown around so freely back then. It goes back to that battle, back and forth in my head, of wanting to feel free to say what I want to say, and then [worrying about] what may or may not affect people. And, not saying it’s wrong or it’s right, but at this point in my career — man, I say so much sh-t that’s tongue-in-cheek. I poke fun at other people, myself. But the real me sitting here right now talking to you has no issues with gay, straight, transgender, at all. I’m glad we live in a time where it’s really starting to feel like people can live their lives and express themselves. And I don’t know how else to say this, I still look at myself the same way that I did when I was battling and broke.”
I kind of thought you were doing it because when you’re rapping as Slim Shady, part of your mission is to annoy people. “Well, look, I’ve been doing this sh-t for, what, 14 years now? And I think people know my personal stance on things and the personas that I create in my music. And if someone doesn’t understand that by now, I don’t think there’s anything I can do to change their mind about it.”
[From Rolling Stone]
Sigh. I can’t and won’t defend Em’s use of gay slurs. I’ve been a huge fan of his ever since he clawed his way out of Detroit and onto the rap scene, but it seems weak for him to defend his use of the words as part of his “Slim Shady” persona. Eminem goes after everyone with his lyrics. Everyone! No one is immune from criticism in his lyrical stylings. His rhymes are also constantly “on the rag,” but that doesn’t mean he hates women. Am I making an excuse for his borderline-homophobic lyrics? No. Em is just a classic equal opportunity offender. Still … he has no excuse for the gay slurs. It’s time to wrap up that shtick, Em.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet & WENN
I am not against anyone in any which way, however the world has gone too PC in some regards!
Too PC?
How?
@Fiona….I totally agree
agreed, I’d rather know what people think than having them censured by the pc brigade. you then know who to avoid!
ps words have diffferent meanings based on context, tone and intent. Wanting imperatively assign a single definition of the word used by huge swaths of the population to mean something else is ridiculous.
Agreed 100% – especially to “words have different meanings based on context, tone and intent. Wanting imperatively assign a single definition of the word used by huge swaths of the population to mean something else is ridiculous.”
I agree too. Everything is too PC these days.
If I had a black friend and endorsed racial equality laws whilst throwing the N-word around like confetti, would I get a pass?
Well, there are obviously a lot of black ppl doing just that. Which suggests that the issue is just slightly more complex.
A lot of black people doing what, using the N word? Gay people use the F word with each other, which is what I think she’s asking as a white person who’s straight? Idk… Gay men I’ve known had no problem using that word with each other or from straight women who used it in a positive way.
Meh. I personally don’t like dirty words. Talking ugly reveals your own ugly. And Em is oogleh!
I have a gay friend who says things like “that’s so gay,” in a negative context. I think Eminem should avoid using gay slurs, of course, but I understand what he means — that he thinks of it as a word that has almost become stripped of meaning.
I’m not so sure we should use your friend as a litmus test. I don’t know any gay men or women (including myself) who say “that’s so gay” or enjoy being called “f—–s”–not even with one another.
Grant
You took this to a personal level it didn’t need to be at.
I also have a few gay friends that do use those phrases to show dislike. They say those things at objects, not at people and not with hate. And just because they use those words to express themselves doesn’t mean by default they would enjoy being called gay slurs or call other people that. And just because you’ve never seen or heard it does not mean it doesn’t happen.
You can disagree, but it doesn’t mean no one is like that in a totally innocent way.
Totally agree with @Florc. I went to a big university in Austin (a decade ago) and had a lot of friends, greek, sweet and nerdy, as long as they were sweet, we were friends. All kinds of sexual orientations. Though none of them used f—t or n–r (those are on a far different tier), “that’s so gay” was as common as “I’m drunk and hungry and lets go to Taco Bell.” I think most of you are reading way too into this. I’ve watched M give the same answer for years, even when I thought he was annoying. He’s legit with his statements and beyond reproach when it comes to authenticity and sincerity. He’s not afraid.
Grant, I get that you just don’t like those gay slurs in any context; I view your remarks as an amicable invitation to listen and learn from a gay man who opposes these derisive terms. Celebitchy’s Commenting Guidelines read in part, “Different opinions, backgrounds, ages, and nationalities are welcome here”, so this doesn’t mean you can’t speak from personal experience or opinion in your writing.
Florc, regardless of your having gay friends, saying f—-t or “that’s so gay” is still seen as incredibly offensive by a large segment of the community, gay or otherwise. Shouldn’t that be enough to make you want to not use “those phrases”? Too often, though, it’s the offending party who tries to determine exactly what’s offensive to subjugated groups. This conversation is always a disaster. Trying to convince a subjugated group not to feel a certain way about oppressive words and phrases – with decades or even centuries of history – is an exercise in hegemonic privilege: ‘Because I don’t feel offended by it, you shouldn’t either.’
I personally believe a gay man knows what offends him more than a woman with gay friends.
@MCraw – I can only speak from experience with my bisexual best friends (as a straight woman myself), but they (& the few openly gay boys/guys I’ve met in passing, all see the ‘F—-t’ or ‘F–‘ word as hateful & demeaning. But I realize that I can’t equate they or my friends with everyone. I’ve gotten o to my younger brother for saying things like “That’s so gay” meaning something negative, even though he doesn’t seem to have *any* problem with gay people.
The only time I’ve heard the F-word used meant to be positive or endearing, was by the (very openly bisexual) female rapper ‘Brooke Candy’, who I read calls her group of friends/entourage her/a “F-g Mob”. (She’s more than a little raunchy xD i dont think id ever listened to a so g wih so many offensive phrases, curse words, and overt sexual statements about both men & women. I couldnt help but laugh, though). But I don’t know if that’s common for more…’normal’ people xD
@Sloane Wyatt That was lovely, respectful, and well-said.
Thank you, tweetime! I love puns, and your username is so precious and girly. 🙂
Isn’t that sort of like Paula Dean saying she used the “N” word, but didn’t mean it in an unkind way?
No.
If it’s not okay to say it, it’s still not okay to say it. He is nothing special to escape things like this; they apply to everybody or nobody. You can call it fallout from the world being too PC but rules are rules and this is what happens when mandates are made.
Could you expand on that, please? Lol
Nope.
Um, yes. It’s like using any derogatory term and then saying, “i don’t mean it like that though. i love those types of people. its just my act”
Allow me to enlighten you so you never embarrass yourself again:
I don’t get offended every time a rapper uses the word ‘bitch’ or ‘ho’ to describe women because it’s not reality. I don’t choose to listen to that music often and it doesn’t offend me personally because the meaning of the word is almost lost. It’s a lexicon that is widely accepted as being different and more hyperbolic than the one we use in daily life. Rappers rap about horrible acts of violence against women, minorities, other people and each other all the time but we don’t hear any public outcry.
I think Eminem was just trying to say that in the rap industry, insulting someone with derogatory words-sometimes poorly chosen ones-does not mean that rappers are endorsing direct discrimination of and hatred towards, those people. Eminem has been offending everyone for over a decade, without being too choosy. I don’t like that word any more than anyone else but I DON’T think it’s the same as Paula Deen making a reference to slaves in bow ties followed by the n-word in her personal life:
LGBT rights and civil rights are different. Completely different. To treat them as the same is to virtually ignore the greatest modern tragedy of our country. Slavery IS the most inhumane and tragic part of American history besides genocide of the Native Americans, and perhaps, the Korean war, Vietnam, Hiroshima, Afghanistan… LGBT people deserve protection too and their struggle deserves wide acknowledgement and empathy but rap is by its very nature divisive, violent and derogatory and everyone knows that. No one looks to rap to be PC. The driving force behind rap music to begin with was the poverty and destitute lifestyle of African Americans who were forced to live in the streets for generations because white people exploited them and mistreated them for CENTURIES. Don’t believe me? Look up some 2013 incarceration statistics of black men vs. white men or the average black woman’s salary vs. the average white man’s salary, even today. He could have used a different word but name one that isn’t offensive to someone in some way. F*g is not the same as the n-word. It’s hurtful, it’s reprehensible, it’s unsavory but it is not the same.
And for people talking about “white privilege”… rappers get away with a lot all the time, no matter who they are and I don’t know anything about Eminem but I know he does not come from privilege at all. I’m letting him off because he’s a rapper, not because he’s white. And we are all getting pretty much p^wned by plutocrat suits that are probably eating caviar in some office building in Shanghai right now thanks to deregulation and an administration that continues to condescend and insult us. That drives up the cost of education and our health care while lowering wages and inflation soars so… the definition of “white privilege” is becoming a bit more narrow as we sit here on the internet like a bunch of dorks. I haven’t heard any of his music besides his hits so I don’t know. I do think the f*g word is dated, offensive and inappropriate BUT the f*g word in a rap song is completely different from Paula Deen saying the n-word off the cuff. Way way different. I would also second the notion that censorship is worse than being offended, just for the record.
Famous people (both black and white) get away with way too much, including rappers.
Remember when Snoop killed someone?
Remember when Jay Z stabbed a dude?
Remember how just couple days ago Chris Brown’s charges were immediately dropped to misdemeanor?
Of course, “white privilege” exists (it’s real, guys) but peoples’ response to Eminem is not an example of that.
Yeah, of course it’s real and I agree that it was misapplied here, everything in my comment illustrates how-but a few commentators down below seemed to think he could get away with saying f*g because he’s white (?) I don’t know either
The Original Kitten I’d also like to add Vince Neil driving drunk, murdering a member of Hanoi Rocks, Charlie Sheen battery against woman but they press charges, Lindsey Lohan getting chance after chance after chance. Research Doc Mc Ghee who managed Bon Jovi, Skid Row, Motley Crue during the 80’s.
Girlface love your post
I’m black don’t use the n word, don’t listen to rap music because I don’t like how women are portrayed/callings b’s and h’s. I do believe in freedom of speech. What I find interesting some men will say if you’re not a b or h, don’t worry about it. These same men act like little b****es when the Color Purple or Waiting To Exhale books were released. They were like old ladies clutching their pearls stating they didn’t like how black men were portrayed in these sorts of books. Well it works both ways
@Kate-oh completely agree— I mentioned those black artists not to cast shade but because it was implied that white rappers somehow get away with more.
My only point was that the entertainment industry is really not reflective of reality in that sense and celebs, regardless of race, are subject to looser restrictions when it comes to the law.
While I understand that people like to make a distinction between racial discrimination and sexual orientation discrimination for reasons that are perfectly valid, they are BOTH matters of civil rights. Consider the idea that up until very recently, “gay panic” was considered a valid legal defense against murder! Just because we were blind to it doesn’t mean there wasn’t also a long history of discrimination, both individual and institutional, against LGBT people. I agree that in context, Eminem’s use of the F work and Paula Deen’s use of the N word are different. But Em should still get with the times. Just because you used to use it doesn’t mean you get to continue using it. And for what it’s worth, there is a difference between censorship and being PC.
I know they’re both civil rights issues, I was referring more to the separate movements. No one is oblivious to the violent legacy left by the hate crimes against LGBT people.
@TOKitten – I agree with you, as usual. 🙂 I did find it interesting though, that while most hip-hop/rap artists aren’t card out publicly for their offensive statements/words, when Chris was quoted as having said something like “I’m not I to that gay sh!t!” (sorry, cant remember exact wording) right before punching some guy, he *was* called on it… But somehow avoided it bein called a ‘hate crime’ (I guess bc the dude wasn’t gay? I’m not sure how that works).
I think the way those words are handled are a tangled web; seeing as not so long ago, it used to be considered ‘totally acceptable’ by much of society. Like with the convo we had regarding the N-word, in some ways.
What a mess. *>____<*
God ppl, why is this so difficult to grasp? Learn some f-ing history. Its YOUR history, Americans. The n word is UNIQUE to institutionalized slavery. It is not simply a racial SLUR.
SLURS are words meant to degrade a person’s gender, ethnicity, race or sexuality, etc. The possibilities are endless.
The N WORD is meant to degrade a person’s HUMANITY; in other words, it was a word that EMPOWERED WHITE slave owners by reducing black people to chattel. There are no other possibilities: it meant one thing and one thing only.
HELLO. DIFFERENCE. AS A WHITE PERSON, the n-word has ALWAYS empowered you. AS A BLACK PERSON , the n-word has ALWAYS disempowered and dehumanized you. Therefore, attempts have been made in the African-American community to co-opt the meaning of the word by reshaping its connotations.
BUT THE CONNOTATIONS ARE STILL THE SAME FOR YOU, WHITE PERSON.
Hope that clears things up. I typed this with one finger on a broken iPad. That is how crystal clear this distinction is to me. I am completely perplexed as to why this remains less than obvious to you.
@Greenieweenie your explanation is PERFECT. Sadly though, it will go right over the heads of many. I hope you realize that some people just don’t get it and never will.
Well said! Thank you.
Actually, “upper level” or “higher order” slaves (those that worked inside the plantation owners houses) looked *down* upon those that worked the fields. And frequently called those below them AND themselves as such. You were better than those field ni**ers, they were HOUSE ni**ers. And would remind field hands of this if they became too “uppity”. So they weren’t innocent either.
Yes, the plantation owners used it most, and way past slavery times til present day unfortunately. But a lot of slaves used their positions to put down and reject those of their same color as below them because of their positions. It’s not right, no matter who’s doing it and who they’re doing it as well.
ITA. It’s just a self deprecating term to me that isn’t intended to have negative connotation, but some people interpret that it is or judge it, some think it’s unfair that white people can’t (many do) use it even under the same context, but I see it like this, I can say that I look like s**t, or my kid acts dumb, or my mom or best friend is a bitch, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be offended if other people say those things, or shouldn’t be, about those people. Because it means something different when they say that.
How the hell am I as a white person empowered by the “N” word now? The only white people that I know that use it are ignorant and trashy as hell and not an example of “powerful” white people. I think everyone needs to recognize there are a lot of poor and middle class white people and we’re not all “empowered” and lording things over black folk like the good old slave days. I’m not keeping anyone from getting hired at a job or paying them less and waving my “white privilege” around you while stepping on your head. I’m too busy busting my ass working for 10 dollars an hour in this stupid ass economy wondering how I’m going to pay the bills and choosing between paying them and eating and have been living this way most of my life, how’s that for white privilege?
..and there are A LOT of white people like me. A LOT.
I’m not asking anyone to feel sorry for me, or anything like that, I was dealt the cards I was given and I’m dealing with them, but I there is going to come a huge crisis point in our country that’s going to happen and everyone is going to need to stop moaning about race, gender, religious and political differences and get real and help each other. Wake up guys.
@cyndi, nuances among slaves didn’t change the function of the word for white slave owners. Obviously, house slaves were attempting to establish a hierarchy that would grant them more humanity than their field counterparts. That word was still being used as a measurement of human qualities. Let’s not confuse causality with usage: the institution of slavery generated the function of the n-word, not house slaves.
I’m well aware of this history because apparently I am the only person under the age of 50 who reads slave narratives?? If you want to understand, GoodNamesAllTaken, I suggest you start reading.
@Blorg, so connotations disappear because you’re unaware of them? What you don’t seem to realize is that today’s socioeconomic conditions are not divorced from history. There’s a REASON why the black community remains disproportionately poor and it’s not because African-Americans are disproportionately lazy. It has EVERYTHING to do with a culture of poverty that emerged from 350 YEARS OF black people being violently and systematically denied language, education, family structure, political representation and social/criminal justice–oppression across generations that did its best to dismantle any kind of cultural framework supporting any ability to resist exploitation. Add another century if you want to include the Jim Crow era.
Yes, poor white ppl aren’t any different than poor black ppl in the sense that neither group is making good use of the opportunities available to them today–but that doesn’t mean each group is in that position for the same reasons. Don’t get it twisted. The burden of responsibility is NOT the same. Your race has empowered you across the arc of US history and you are still reaping the benefits of that today whether you’re cognizant of that or not. That is what the n-word represents for white people.
Wow. Thank you to everyone who attempted to respond to my question in a civil manner. To those of you who ranted on in condensing, insulting responses, I was not comparing the n word to the f word, although I imagine if you’re gay and someone is beating you to death while calling you the f word, it would be hard to see the difference. I was comparing the situation when a person uses a slur while proclaiming to support and care for the group they’re using the slur against. That is all.
But, I disagree with you when you say that the n word is the only word that has been used to take away the very humanity of a group of people throughout history. How about Jew? Or wh-re? I guess those don’t count because they’re not about you.
I agree with everything you just said.
Love this quote:
“I still look at myself the same way that I did when I was battling and broke.”
He’s real. Leave him alone.
FFS, exactly. Until the day when people gasp in horror when a white person is called ‘honky’ or ‘cracker’, I honestly wish everyone would stfu and stop being so overly sensitive. This is PC-ism taken to an extreme, pls get over it.
OK. If you’re white, when were you last called one of those names? For me, it was fifth grade. I bet most black people can recall an incident sometime after that. Maybe you have people shouting “cracker” among so.e other racist sentiments at you while you walk down the street, but I am doubtful you experience that more than the average black person in the USA.
And I am very offended by those words, so your argument is a little flat.
I dunno, I love Em and he pisses off most people but I don’t know that that gives him a pass. I get what he’s saying but maggot rhymes just as well as the f word.. I still like his music though
I don’t really understand. He insults everyone, so it’s more acceptable? Doesn’t that mean that his lyrics can be homophobic, racist *and* misogynistic?
Love him. Love his music. And TMZ can go …
I agree.
HOMOPHOBE.
White privilege at its finest
Really?? Just stop it.
@Frankie –Since this is so off the mark and it seems to be the new buzz word meant to keep racism a burning fire, posts talking about “white privilege” = trolls in my mind from now on.
Oh please. Eminem. The height of white privilege. Funny how everyone confused his life circumstances with that of white trash. Everyone but YOU, that is…YOU see the truth! Genius!
Yeah. Unfortunately, I grew up in a place similar to where he comes from, so I can attest to the fact that tons of folks feel like they were shat on so much that they don’t realize they have white privilege. It’s a complicated thing around those parts. When generations of your family can’t escape poverty, shady business is the only way to get ahead, education isn’t even close enough to be a dream, and you have to keep blaming the man for the systemic downfalls… it’s hard to realize that you have white privilege. I’m not saying he doesn’t, and I’m not glossing over the fact that he now rich and famous, and has been for a decade. But you don’t forget your roots so easily, so Eminem has internalized his background.
GIRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRL.
@Frankie Agreed. If any other rapper made statements like this, a black one especially, he would be MASSACRED in the comments. I also find it interesting that people get sooooo angry when white privilege is brought up. It definitely exists.
Absolutely White Priviledge exists – in nearly every arena. But to say that Black rappers are more called out for language/mysogyny than Eminem is false, IMO. In fact, the vast majority of rappers are Black or other minorities and I rarely, if ever, hear them being called out for their lyrics.
No one is denying white privilege, just the use of it here.
I disagree. I never GAF about Snoop, Tupac, Kanye, Jay Z , any of them and their language. I always completely agreed with Snoop when he said if people don’t like the language of the g—-, then they need to focus on addressing the underlying social issues generating that language. Don’t sit there and criticize the fact that people dealing with those problems don’t speak pretty.
Just because some idiot from nowhere, Middle America, is given an internet platform to air his oh-so-special views doesn’t mean they actually represent reality. No matter what “controversy” might have found its way onto the internets by way of bored writers and ignorant commenters, all four of the afore-mentioned rappers made sh*t tons of money…which suggests that their audience wasn’t taking offense. White privilege might be taking the form of less criticism here, but I suspect Eminem himself would disagree.
I literally can’t remember the last time I saw a black rapper get shredded in the media for this.
I think he’s smart and insanely talented. But, I have a huge problem with anyone using derogatory words towards anyone. You can be relevant, provocative without using slurs. I just feel like what you put out in the world shouldn’t cause harm to another.
I shudder to think of all the kids listening to his music who will then adopt his “attitude” and BULLY other gay kids in the school…..UGH.
as a huge influential artist (?) and as someone who supposedly made peace with Elton John he should not be backtracking….good thing his star is slowly fading….Kanye, Jay Z and Drake and Kendrick Lamar have taken over in the Hip Hop spotlight….hope that continues.
So Em is evil and the others are OK? Really? Em’s influence is the only one we should be worried about here?
@ InvaderTak – THIS post is about Eminem.
avoidance doesn’t help either btw.
What about the kids being influenced by the other rappers- gloryfing gang/thug life, dealing/doing drugs (nonrappers apply here also-miley, rihanna, etc), murder. Neither is right, neither should just be accepted.
And what about Kanye, influencing another generation with his racism featured on ALL of his most recent albums (if not all of them). Or, *does* anyone still listen to him? Lol
Racism will *never* go away as long as it is allowed to be passed on by both whites AND blacks.
I AM GAY.
TELL me how I should feel about Eminem and his music?!!!!!!!
TELL ME!!!!
Especially for such weak reasons. I get that he came up using that kind of language, and that he’s an “equal opportunity offender,” but this is just weak and silly. It’s more than a bit hard to believe that this extraordinarily talented man can’t do better than resorting to junior high-level insults.
Thanks for not avoiding the issue and going alllllll around the block asking or responding about “other” artists.
Still love him.
Maybe he’s using the “kanye” excuse and trying to make something/word offensive his own with his own meaning? I don’t know. I don’t use that word and really his music would be the same without it.
With regards to him lip synchiing. he did use a back up track, you can tell he was rapping along with his pre-recorded voice…which a lot of musicians do. He won’t get the same flack Ashlee Simpson got for doing the same thing or when Beyonce did it. The media picks and chooses who they will pound to the ground and who will get a pass.
And the reason we barely see any pap pics of him is because he still lives in Michigan and refuses to live the Hollywood lifestyle.
I’ll give a pass for lypsincing to people who write their own songs.
Why is Marshall afraid to use the word Nig##?
You are right, he has stated many times he refuses to use the “n” word (which is great because no one should use that word)…but yeah why does he use anti-gay slurs though? I guess we will never understand his reasoning.
He won’t use Nig## because he is afraid of getting a beatdown.
Getting to be an “old” punk.
I’m from Michigan and love that he keeps his home here. (Most celebs from Michigan live here at least part time… is this true in other states? I’m assuming so.) In a past life, I was married to a pro snowboarder and we traveled the circuit while he competed. Eminem was just about to break and he was at a lot of the competitions performing at the concerts that would be part of the competitions. He was just balls out and wild, but he was always very sweet.
I just have a huge soft spot for him. Do I wish he didn’t use those words? Of course. But there’s a lot of music I listen to and enjoy that have really kind of horrific lyrics. I’m not going anywhere with this I guess. Love him. But he can do better.
I just love him and cant wait to pick up his new CD today at lunch. I have already heard it, I was bad and listened to the leaks (couldnt help myself).
I see both sides of this b/c we used those terms the same way he is back in the day and it had nothing to do with homosexuals. Im not saying its right but I do get where he’s coming from. It was always used the same as A**, jerk or whatever insult you can come up with. Everyone on the internet is so politically correct or they at least pretend to be that you cant say much without pissing one group off or another.
I also watched SNL and his performance def. wasnt his best but he was actually live rapping along with back tracking so TMZ and whoever can just STFU on that. They should really be writing about how bad that show is now. I could barely sit thru it to see him. Nothing funny about it, SNL def. needs to call it quits.
Simple thing is to just not listen to him if he offends you. I, only the other hand will probably be playing this CD all night…so excited!
Sure, people have every right to be offended and every right to NOT listen to his music but at the end of the day, what is or is not offensive is subjective.
Personally, If I have to choose between censorship and being offended, I will choose the latter, always and forever.
+1
+ 2
+ 100000000000
+4
Oh well said and I so agree with you!
+ 5!
90s music over 90s political correct bs
Should anything ever happen to MrBuckeye, I will grieve appropriately, and then proceed to stalk Em for the rest of his days.
*hangs head*
But seriously, time to wrap up f***ot, man. This is coming from a place of deep love, that sprung forth fully formed the first time I heard “My name is” and continues unabated to this day. I am so far from his target audience (small town Southern girl), but I just. adore. him. He’s too talented for this. I am nervous about the misogyny too. I’ve struggled with the cognitive dissonance between my feminist views and some of his lyrics for years, and I’m not sure what to expect in the new album. I keep hoping that as the girls get older, he gets a new viewpoint, but if he is using the “I’m going back to the underground” excuse, then it doesn’t sound like there’s going to be shift anywhere. I’ve been holding off reading about the album because I want to experience it without any pre-formed opinions…
I know quite a lot of his songs, but not all. I always felt that his lyrics weren’t pointed towards all women, they were directed towards Kim and his mom.
It’s there in quite a few. Superman, Drug Ballad, Shake That, WTP, Won’t Back Down for just a few I’ve listened to today (he’s a huge part of my playlists)…it’s a casual disregard for women as people that aligns with the larger rap community as a whole. I just want better for him, because it truly seems like there is a divide in his personality between his rap persona and real life.
If he were a black rapper I doubt so many of you would be okay with it.
If a black rapper uses those words, they are called homophobes, but if Eminem does it, he’s called smart & he gets a pass. Sloppy White privilege.
Oh please. I think you missed the entire Yeezus album, and nobody calls Kanye anything but an a$$hole.
@Sagal +1
WORD.
I’m not from the US so it wouldn’t make any difference to me.
Please drop the term “white privilege” from your vocabulary. It doesn’t exist anymore.
Privilege does not mean you live a life of ease. It means some things are easier when you are white, such as not being a representative for your entire race, not being suspected of criminal activity because of your skin tone alone, and not having others assume you grew up poor or fatherless or that you aren’t married to your children’s father. There are many types of privilege; being white is one of them. All it means is you get a benefit (such as benefit of the doubt) when others do not, even when you both deserve it.
Sagal needs to look up what the term “white privilege” really means ’cause this ain’t it. Here you go: http://thisiswhiteprivilege.tumblr.com/faq
*Edit* Nevermind ’cause I changed my mind!
He’s been doing it for 14 years now, and it’s old. Has the landscape around homosexuality changed in the last 14 years? Why yes, yes it has. Very much. Remember when Ellen came out and it was SUCH a HUGE deal? Times have changed. I wouldn’t give my great-grandparents a pass if they used racial slurs, even though it was totally okay with their peers back at the turn of the century. Look, I love Eminem’s music, but I’d love it more if certain parts didn’t make me cringe so hard.
I see what he’s saying and I also use the word f*ggot but not in a derogatory term towards gay people. Louis CK has a good joke about the word. http://youtu.be/Fcja4WFFzDw
Somebody one day is going to publicly embarrass the hoo-haw out of you if you keep using that word. I’d quit while you’re ahead.
louis ck had an even better bit about the use of the word in louie. rick crom schools him on why it’s offensive.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-55wC5dEnc
Thanks for the link! What a great scene.
@Therapy….I love love love louis CK. Off topic of course but I love him (did I mention that?)
He looks about a million times better with brown hair to me.
P.S. PULL UP YOUR DAMN PANTS.
Yes. But I freely admit I took a close look possibly to see his package. 😉
Yes, pull up your damn pants. You’re what, 41 now? There comes a point when certain fashion statements should no longer be done.
I don’t really like it but I don’t think it’s all that different from men calling women bitches and that seems to be everywhere so I don’t get where the high horse is.
Words have context, and context shapes meaning. *I* am not one for slurs of any kind but I don’t take offense to black ppl throwing the n word around and I don’t take all that much offense to someone using uncomfortable language but not intending to cause hurt with it. To me, this is as legalistic as punishing your kid for dropping an f bomb (who cares?) but ignoring when they go out of their way to hurt someone’s feelings using perfectly acceptable language. Intent matters.
I think all the PASSING of him by commenters on here is SAD and RIDICULOUS.
I am gay so obviously I am offended. He’s a JACKASS and a PUNK.
and obviously a poor writer.
+1
I think it’s bullshit to sing or rap about f*gs, b*tches, Hos, whores, sluts, n*****s, or c*nts. These words, and plenty others are ugly, hate-mongering, and divisive. They are not artistic, and they do not get a pass from me. I have no truck with the “equal opportunity offenders” eloquently mentioned below, and they need to cut if the f*ck out.
Marshal Mathers is gifted, so I KNOW he can do better without resorting to hate filled words in his music. Slim Shady, it’s time to quit being part of the problem, and start becoming part of the solution!
What’s so funny ’bout peace, love, and understanding?
I have to say that when I was a kid in the 70s, “f–t” definitely was used to mean “loser,” or something like that.
Also, I kind of regard him as an equal opportunity hater, just like Morrissey, whether he really is a hater or not.
I can’t wait for this CD! I am going after work to buy it. I don’t know what to say about the gay stuff, I think the fact is he needs to deal with it with his friends who are gay. As far TMZ krap goes I have my own theories about them trying to dump on him. But I never believe TMZ unless I can find at three other trusted sites that concur with them. I totally can’t wait to hear what everyone thinks of it after it’s been out there for a while!
Good Album, I never listened to his album(s) before but after hearing Monster (feat. Rihianna) and Beautiful Pain w/ Sia, I went on and WOW is Rap God a crazy talent of a song. Got to enjoy his style and that he’s still at it after all these years.
The album seems deeper and more introspective that all the stuff I’ve heard from him and it feels really good to get to know his side a bit better. (was I an Eminem fan all along? weird)
Would you consider Kid Rock as white privileged? I love him, and he says some serious messed up stuff.
Good, I was worried there wouldn’t be an article written today that would give people the excuse to use the term “white privilege.” *rolls eyes* People may get offended when the term “fa—-t” is written or the n word (and rightly so). But you know what, I get offended when people use the term ‘white privilege.’ Don’t effing assume that just because I’m white I’ve had it “privileged.”
And @Almond Joy, I find it interesting that you can’t grasp the concept that people get annoyed when that term is used. You make a generalization about an entire race, but nope, that’s fine, cause we’re white. You know what, I understand what’s been done in the past, but not once in my life have I made a generalization about a black, latino, etc. I would really appreciate it if it wasn’t done to me. Oh but you know what, I get it, I’m white, so it’s completely PC to shit all over me.
Is this the new norm now? Every time someone white gets away with something, we’re going to should White Privilege!!!! from the rooftops?
I hold the opinion that if you are White, you have benefited from white priviledge. It is just how it is in this country. By nothing other than the nature of your skin color at birth, you (most likely) aren’t being pulled over, aren’t being followed around stores, aren’t made to explain why you are walking your dog in your own neighborhood, and ARE given the benefit of the doubt even when engaging in criminal activity, are making more money than your minority counterparts, are picked for promotion at a higher rate than your minority coworkers. The list goes on and on and on.
Don’t confuse the “priviledge” part of white priviledge with wealth or status. It simply means you have the luxury of having been born White in a society that, so far, sees White as the preferred race.
@Mary +1 Girl! Seriously. Im so sick of this hateful racist term. Most of us are in the same boat economically speaking right now anyways. We need to stick together and stop finding ways to keep racism alive.
Maybe this should be called “rich privilege” instead? I damn sure know that growing up a poor white girl in a bad area I was profiled by police based on where I lived. I was discriminated against at school daily. I think everyone at one time or another has been discriminated against. You have to stop thinking the grass is greener or whiter, or whatever on the other side. You can’t assume that because someone is white they are not, have not and will never be, discriminated against.
How is this article even remotely about white privilege anyways? A white rapper uses a gay slur and thats a white privilege? Gay people can be any race right?
FFS @GiGi If you are going to use the word at least learn to spell it. Privilege. Not priviledge.
@SnarkySnarkers-
Hah, YES!! This to infinity!!
Well said, gg! I’d like to add to this thread on white privilege; ALL the types of privilege (even heterosexual privilege) can affect you.
In the case of poor whites, the class privilege often takes more from them than the white privilege gives them. For example, you can have white privilege, heterosexual privilege, and able-bodied privilege working FOR you and have class privilege and male privilege working AGAINST you. I can see where sincere whites not born with silver spoons in their mouths are “sick of white privilege” and don’t believe they have any such thing. IMO, some poor or lower middle class whites are genuinely mistaking a lack of class privilege for a lack of white privilege.
Even for poors, white privilege DOES exist. Yes, you lose out on some of your white privilege if you don’t have $20 in your pocket or don’t know the social graces that mark you as ‘normal’ (middle class, preferably white). When you don’t fit in with your own race because of your class, and you don’t fit in with your class because of your race, it’s hard to see privilege around that stuff, but it’s there.
Here are examples of white privilege working FOR you, even if you’re poor: One black girl whose family was richer than the poor white girl’s discovered they’d both given identical answers on a school test, and the black student got some of them marked wrong while the white girl got 100%. After comparing their other previous class tests, they realized the teacher had been doing this for some time: “giving” the black girl a lesser grade. In another incident, when one of the Jewish girls whose family was richer than the white girl’s was absent for a Jewish holiday and missed a test, one of her teachers decided to teach the Jewish girl a lesson by refusing to let her make up that test anytime but on a Saturday – the Jewish Sabbath. The teacher offered truly pathetic excuses why after school, during lunch and during the girl’s study period wouldn’t work. Sunday wouldn’t work because it was the teacher’s Christian Sabbath! The girl’s mother had to call the principal and threaten to bring the ACLU into it before she got a proper time slot to retake the test.
Another example of class privilege working against poor whites is if you have an accent of any sort. Many do, since by definition it’s the higher classes who get the privilege of their accent being declared “no accent”. Poor whites are expected to change their accents, if they’re “serious” about getting certain jobs or promotions. Poor whites with ‘lower’ class accents are vulnerable to class assumptions that they’re ill-educated, lazy, you name it.
Privilege especially sucks if you don’t have it, so I hope that something in my comment will be food for thought for sincere whites who mistake a lack of class privilege for a lack of white privilege.
http://whatprivilege.com/category/race-privilege/
“Most of us are in the same boat economically speaking right now anyways. We need to stick together and stop finding ways to keep racism alive.” Snarky, I wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment because keeping the poor and working class of all races and cultures at each other’s throats only benefits Our Corporate Masters. The last thing the 1% plutocrats want is for citizens to make their voices heard and to unite in common cause.
I recognize that for many whites the term white privilege seems so angry and isolating. Ironically, part of white privilege is that our society is crafted to appeal to Caucasians; this blunt term jars precisely because it doesn’t craft its message specifically for white people. The very nature of the term “white privilege” seems to trigger white alienation and a hostile environment. That’s a part of being an ally, though. Confronting your privilege, a gift you receive from white supremacy through the deaths of millions of PoC throughout the years, should make you feel pretty damn shitty. If you feel bad, it just means you’re taking the first important step.
IMO, our country is optimistic and hopes that with the passage of time racial division will disappear on their own. I’m thankful that in the welcoming salon-like atmosphere of Celebitchy, we’re encouraged to keep having serious discussions on race. When commenters go off on a tangent, I think it’s an opportunity to keep having civil discourse and to work toward the solution for racial harmony, one conversation at a time.
BTW, “How is this article even remotely about white privilege anyways?” It isn’t, directly. It’s about how it’s past time Slim Shady stops his self-justification and stops using gay slurs.
“…The song contains a lot of
sampling, and Em moves the mic from his mouth during
most of the Beastie Boys/Billy Squier moments…”
——————-
EXACTLY what I said when I watched that clip! That’s TMZ for ya’! They kiss the KKlans fat asses and someone who has real talent (and as much as I LOATHE rap, I’ve liked Ems last works over the past couple of yrs. I *loooovvvveee* “Berzerk”! Has my 50 y.o. ass happily boogin” on down in the seat of my car! I act a big fool with this song on! Surprised I haven’t been arrested yet!) (o: like Em they diss, why? Harvey is gay and a lot of his staff are as well. They give passes to a lot of people, but not here. Guess Em isn’t paying them like the rest obviously have to do to get the positively glowing posts written about them!!
Do I agree with all/everything he says and does? No…not at all. But you can’t deny he’s talented. And just to play devils advocate here:
Why does Em get called out for gay slurs, but you rarely hear about (negatively) about all the racist shit in kanyes “music”. Em beats out KW 10 to 1, any day.
@Gigi +1
Well put on what white privilege is. I hope people read it. It doesn’t mean being white puts you in the rich column. It just means you aren’t treated like a suspect at work or walking down the street.
Your privilege is invincible. And NO ONE is accusing you of oppressing people of colour.
We just ask that you recognize it & have empathy. And maybe then that can lead to social change.
He should go back to when slurs were things like “dunce” and “lickspittle.”
Sometimes it’s just semantics.
Eminem is immensely talented and I don’t think he’s necessarily bigoted. But at the same time, I think we’re too quick to give a pass for “equal opportunity offenders”, I think it’s just sort of a bad example. Eminem might not be a raging bigot, but people listening to him? Some can easily be influenced by this sort of thing. Just because it doesn’t necessarily come from a place of hate, doesn’t mean it can’t inform the hate in others.
Look, as much as we like to rag on “Political Correctness”, in the end, it does come down basic human decency and avoiding bigoted speech and actions. I’m not talking about constructive criticism, or light observations or anything like that. I’ve been called “Wendy the Jew” by friends and had no problem with that. Political Correctness shouldn’t be about pretending differences don’t exist. But there’s a difference between acknowledging and observing differences and using slurs. There are jokes and words of distinction, and then there are words of hate and oppression. And sorry, equating a person’s ethnicity, orientation, or sex with being lesser than is hate speech.
You know who is also an “equal opportunity offender”? Rush Limbaugh. Unfortunately, it seems too often the supposed “equal opportunity offenders” are really just assholes who want attention and will gladly engage in the type of rhetoric employed by slave owners and Nazis in order to get what they want and pretend they stand for something. And, often, the supposed “equal opportunity offenses” extend to Blacks, Jews, Women, Hispanics, Gays, transgenders… but conveniently not as much to white men. People use that label to get away with too much, they use the stigma of Political correctness to do so as well.
Just because you’re targeting everyone doesn’t mean you’re treating them as equals. Most equal opportunity offenders will target different groups with distinct insults. Black people are “lazy and violent”, Hispanics are “freeloading”, Asians are “perverted, weird, submissive, and wimpy”, Jews are “greedy, conniving, weak, and secretly trying to control everything”, gays are “perverted, wimpy, fey and diseased”. You’re still encouraging really shitty things that are, in fact, bigoted. And it seems these days we’re giving more credibility to “equal opportunity offenders” than we are to those who promote treating each other equally and avoiding harmful stereotypes.
Okay, I’m about to go to a place I don’t want to go to because I really hate it when people bring anything like this up in arguments. It’s overused, I know. But to be fair, I am not using it flippantly and I am merely making a comparison in terms of certain aspects of this and not the extremity of this….
Am I pro-censorship and banning of hate speech altogether? No. I’ve read Mein Kampf and I’m glad I did. I don’t want documents like that banned. But here’s the distinction: these days, when a person reads Mein Kampf, we read it to examine it as a piece of hateful, racist propaganda and don’t grant it credibility. We read it to analyze the mentality of a bigot and to truly understand all the flaws in the logic that informs such opinions. Seventy years ago, it was taken seriously and led to the rise of a man who enacted the systematic slaughter of millions. These days, we’re supposed to have evolved past such bigotry and not take something like Mein Kampf seriously. And we need to continue down that path. Defending speech based in bigotry, from so-called “equal opportunity offenders”, does not help anything and instead lends credibility to such speech. Am I saying Eminem records should be banned? No, he should be allowed to say what he wants. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t give him shit for it. Freedom of expression is important, but that goes both ways. I have just as much of a right to give Eminem shit for using the word “f—-t”, am expressing myself just as freely doing so as he is in using that word in the first place.
I’m of course not equating Eminem to Hitler or those who defend him to Nazis. I’m really not. I know it’s the most popular thing in the world to call someone a Nazi when you’re arguing on the internet. It’s really stupid. I’m not doing that. I’m merely saying that: Nazis used hate speech and got a pass, and now people like Eminem are getting a pass for indulging in bigoted speech for being “equal opportunity offenders”. I’m not saying that such a thing makes a new Third Reich, I swear. It’s just that there are similarities in the circumstances. I’m using the comparison in the same way that one would acknowledge that Hitler was a vegetarian. Hitler was a vegetarian, but vegetarians aren’t going to be Nazis. I don’t think Eminem or his fans are nazis. I hate it when people do that. But I am saying that what happened with the Third Reich is an example of why we shouldn’t defend or lend credibility to people who speak in damaging stereotypes. I’m not saying we have Nazis on our hands, but I am saying that we shouldn’t pretend slurs and stereotyping are okay. We’re supposed to have moved past the point where we find that socially acceptable. People like Eminem should be criticized when they spread bigoted speech, whether they believe in it themselves or not. Why? Because if we give this sort of thing too much free range, it expands and infects people. It can eventually lead to violence.
Should Eminem be banned? No. But there’s a difference between wanting to censor everything and simply giving a man a pass on using slurs because he’s “an equal opportunity offender.”
Love Eminem. I don’t expect rap music to be politically correct. They aren’t talking about ponies and kittens.
That’s exactly it. Hip hop has always been a raw, uncensored style of music that came from a rough and unapologetic place–it was never meant to be sweet or to cater to political correctness. I wouldn’t watch a horror movie expecting to see Disney, so does that mean horror movies shouldn’t exist? Some people find the nudity and violence in horror movies offensive, so let’s just stop making them, right?
But here’s the silver lining: there are PLENTY of genres of music that IS censored and designed to not offend—-so why not just listen to THAT?
Look, musicians have been using bad words and inappropriate language since the dawn of time. Offensive language in a song is not responsible for making kids think and do bad things, neglectful and lazy parenting is what causes kids doing bad things. Children learn that behavior from their parents and other authoritative figures who demonstrate that hatred is acceptable.
We need to stop oversimplifying a complex issue–instead of blaming music and other art forms for the prevalent misogyny, racism, and homophobia in this country, we need to educate each other about why it’s wrong. But we also need to accept that we’re sharing this country with a lot of other people who might not want to change. It’s a tough pill to swallow but there are people that we share this earth with that are just hateful people who will raise generations of hateful people. We can’t change them, and we can’t always insulate our children, but we CAN teach them to love.
It’s a distraction and it’s not helpful to keep putting the responsibility on people who make a living off of artistic expression, when it’s our responsibility, collectively as humans, to try to inform and teach young people not to hate.
I know I’m gonna get a lot of sh*t for this but I stand firmly by my opinion and I’m not an Eminem fan, but I do love hip hop, I AM a feminist and I do NOT support censorship.
Eminem was lipsynching A LOT during his awards performances back in a days. And when I found out he will do SNL I was curious if he will sing live or just open his month to his own songs. And he did not sing live. And people should call him up on this. I think they bring down a lot Ashlee Simpson for lipsynching on SNL. Why is Eminem immune to criticism? And it’s funny when you remember how he was bringing down popstars 10 years ago. For being fake and do pop or something. And then it turns out he can’t even rap live to his own songs. It’s embarrassing. He doesn’t even have to sing. Just spoke those word fast. People should call him on it more. Do other famous rappers lipsynch? Chris Brown lipsynching all the time too.
Regarding those slurs… People just used to say words like R and F. They use it as offense. And it’s not because they hate stupid people or gays. And then it suddenly become illegal.
Also I wonder who is gonna call Ace Ventura for being homophobic? Remember how he found out that he kissed a police woman (villain of the movie) who was male football player before and he was so disgusted by it that he was trying to wash his mouth for few hours after that? 🙂 Can you imagine scene like that now in modern movies? No way. Producers would be publicly bullied and called homophones and if that scene would be shoot today then Ace Ventura would just smile and made joke about that…
This is how things were just 10 years ago. People can’t just suddenly stop. They still use those horrifying words like R and F in their private life.
Good comment the great rock bands played live for three hours, something Eminem can’t do; I just can’t get into rap – where’s the imaginative lyricism? You can sing/rap about where you came from, but you need to expand your views and imagination.
You are so right about the real musicians playing for 3 hours straight! We just saw ‘The Eagles’ in concert, and they didn’t even have an opening act. Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit not only performed ALL the Eagles classics spanning their career, but they played all the songs from the INDIVIDUAL band members’ solo catalogs as well! The concert went from 8pm to almost midnight, and they and their full ‘orchestra’ back up band were truly mind-blowing. Needless to say, there was no lip synching either!
I had no idea there was such a rampant amount of blase attitudes towards homophobia by the commenters of this website. shocked.
I’m sure some will disagree with me but my stance on this is that words are just words and they can only bother you if you let them bother you. Society is just way too sensitive and politically correct these days and it just seems like no matter what you say or do, someone will find it offensive.
I’m not saying that everyone should run around in public shouting racial/cultural slurs, but for people to get upset because Eminem uses words like “faggot” (and others) in his music is just stupid. Where’s all the outrage over other musicians using words like “bitch” and “hoe” and “skank” to describe women in their music?
I’m certainly no fan of Eminem (or rap music in general) but music, including rap, is a form of art and it’s wrong to try and censor it. If you don’t like it, don’t listen to it. It’s really as simple as that.
To me, using slurs and claiming you don’t mean them in a bad way is similar to finding out your new neighbors are allergic to nuts and giving them a pecan pie as a housewarming gift. You’ve been told the cause (certain words) and the effect (hurt feelings or worse), so you don’t get to hide behind personal intent because knowledge trumps it. Knowing + doing = purposeful intent.
I don’t understand why so many people don’t get it. If you tell me not to hit you in the arm because it hurts and I hit you in the arm, will your arm not hurt if I say I wasn’t trying to hurt you? It’s a simple matter of being a decent, respectful person…not being “too PC.”
Your comparison is way off. Hitting someone is an assault, whereas making an offensive comment is not a crime, and is almost always protected by freedom of speech. If you don’t like offensive song lyrics, you have the freedom to not buy the albums that you find so offensive.
Also, (especially for a famous person) its impossible to never say something that offends someone, somewhere. No matter how nice someone tries to be, its impossible to be completely non-offensive 100% of the time.
oh no, thats being PC. Censoring something because it offends certain people is exactly what Political Correctness is.
So what? Free speech is free speech and we live in a free country with free speech! Get over it. Done.
ex. actly.
I’m laying low on most of this discussion today, but this “free speech” thing grinds my gears. Free speech means freedom from government censorship. That’s it. Free speech doesn’t mean you can say any dumb thing you want without consequences. Free speech protects people who want to call you out, too.
What does anyone expect when they listen to Eminem’s music? If you don’t like him, don’t buy his music. Period.
^ This. Nobody is forcing anyone to listen to his “music” if you can call it that.
Well he kind of does have a point. He’s always been like that so why are people only complaining now?
Real live queer person here.
No, non-queers do not get to use the f-word. End of.
I’m a believer in the idea that you can take offense to absolutely anything, but that you probably shouldn’t take offense if none is intended.
As the world progresses, the acceptability and connotations of certain words change. He’s not actually trying to diss homosexuals, like the Washington Redskins [hail] aren’t actually talking about the skin color of Native Americans. Sometimes the connotation of the terms, and the way they are being used is more valid than the actual denotations, right?
I’d say that the way he, and many people like him, use the other F word and “that’s gay” is basically a second meaning of the terms altogether. Yes, it’s negative. It’s being used as an insult. Lots of words are used as insults that, actually, don’t make ANY sense at all outside of being a common insult. ..
ANYWAY, my point is sometimes what you’re saying isn’t what you mean.
“Ice” means diamonds
“bitch” can be a term of endearment, same goes for the N word
etc.
etc.
etc.
Everyone just needs to unbunch their panties, and get their tolerance hats on. In the ‘land of the free,’ sometimes other people living their free lives are going to annoy or upset you. Get the Fuck over it.
Some people will be offended even if you think they shouldn’t be, so does that mean you should get the fuck over it instead of commenting on this post? That’s not really fair.
Freedom of speech doesn’t mean freedom from being offended, but it also doesn’t mean you can say whatever you want and cry “freedom!!” If some one calls you out. I am tired of “freedom of speech” being used, incorrectly, against people who are speaking up about things they don’t like or find offensive.
For those who say that people are getting too PC and are getting too upset by people using gay slurs, defend the use of the “f” word. Would you use it?
nope. but i would also not say the “N” word, and it is used constantly.
I’m not sure if this has been said before because I’m just popping in. He’s not a homophobe. He’s a misogynist. Plain and simple. I will never defend him, ever.
Not offended…he’s right. In fact, a lot of artists have been doing the same for a long time. If you don’t like it don’t listen to it.
So you were once broke and ignorant? Do you still wear the same piss stained shoes? Or have you classed it up a bit? Class up your mind too, its that simple.
Let’s see. Don’t Care. Don’t Care. And yes, don’t Care.
Don’t approve, don’t buy it.
There is a very clear, marked difference between racism and discrimination, but we seem to be losing sight of that.
Discrimination is when you are discriminated against because of someone else’s prejudice against your race, sexuality, gender, etc. But it stops there. Anyone can discriminate against anyone based on their own prejudices, but it doesn’t become racism until you have a little thing called Power.
Racism = Prejudice + Power
White people hold the power in our society, and there are no two ways of arguing that. Combined with prejudice, we have racism.
It doesn’t matter if you know a person of colour who uses the N word, or you have a gay friend that loves using the F word. If you are not a person of colour and if you are not a gay person, you do not GET to “reclaim” these words and make them friendly or relatable. They are not yours to use.
But you guys aren’t realizing that when you’re getting defensive about your usage of these words, or other incredibly offensive appropriations (Halloween costumes, for starters), you’re basically telling people of colour that their opinion, their outrage, their TOTALLY UNDERSTANDABLE offense is offside. Stop and think about it for a second. It is natural to feel defensive when someone is scolding you for something you see as fine. But this is where we need to reflect on WHY we feel defensive, WHY we get our backs up when we’re told we’re out of line. Is it because we may be afraid to admit our own racism? We don’t want to think of ourselves that way. We’re past that. Racism is over. Right?
When you guys cry about the world becoming “too PC,” you’re essentially just crying about wanting to be left alone for letting your racist flag fly. Let’s hope our children are far more enlightened than their parents, because that world terrifies me.
He’s right, he’s been saying whatever he wants for 14 years. Why bother now? Sure, it’s offensive, but HE IS offensive to everyone, no exclusion.
I’ve never really respected Eminem because of some of the bigotry in his music- including racial stereotypes and mysogyny.
I’d also like to add that yes, the government can’t arrest us for the things we say (free speech) and no, I’m not for censoring art forms, but why does anyone need to call anyone a f**got, dy*e, or any other slur?
I think that we ALL say things about people of a different skin color behind closed doors and done let it out in public without realizing it is actually defensive until the words have fallen from their mouths, BUT that doesn’t change perception of what people WANT to hear. My whole issue is this Paula Deen thing as most everyone making comments about that story did not hear or know the complete story, or realize just how long ago it happened AND the fact she did so with the crowd that was doing the same thing with her, which also were black people!! No, that doesn’t excuse it, but at the same time this was all brought on because she had to cut back on staff and someone got bent out of shape and was looking for a way to make a quick buck off the situation, and for her to defend that would have made the situation worse, so she sucked it up and took the fall for the mess when others were just as much to blame. I am a black AMERICAN and I get disgusted that other black Americans like to use that as an excuse for slander to our race as much as they do!! We all bleed the same color blood and for some reason we still act like we have absolutely no equality with our race and still want to hold white people responsible, and I travel all over this country and I actually see the opposite, and usually the only people of our color complaining are complaining about not getting a fair shake only because they don’t want to do for themselves and think others owe them. Usually they were raised to believe that, so they automatically go that way without actually looking at the big picture. Manorities are actually the majority in this country. We as black Americans need to get over this constant need to have blame for when someone has negative feelings and then wanting to throw that minority card out anymore and just face the fact that maybe we need to check our own damn selves!! We use the excuse too much and that is where most of us go anymore, and it really needs to stop. Personally, I think the person in the wrong was the person that sued Paula because they to damn lazy to get a job and found a rich “ex” friend to scam off of!! SAD, and makes me almost sick to be a black AMERICAN. And that’s another thing, 90% of us never have an ounce of African ethnicity and yet many of us refer to ourselves as one! REALLY???!! Yet just another thing to toss negativities at others when we think we need ammo to go after someone. Again, most people I know all came to the conclusion on the Paula situation and had not heard anything about the story only that she used the word and automatically went ballistic on her. If the situation were the other way around, would it have gone like it did? NO, and we more than likely would have never heard a word about any of it. At some point we need to stop this as after all these years we’re not anywhere near where we were when we actually could say that we’re not equal…. We need to move on and worry about things like better education for our children instead of trying to find ways to have adults fight over stupid tiny things such as words!! They are ONLY words and they only do harm if your a whimp and don’t have a backbone and move on…. Don’t waste time on the trivial things!!