Eminem performs for the first time since his mom's death as he sings controversial song about her

Eminem gave his first performance since his mother Debbie Nelson passed away at the age of 69 from advanced lung cancer a week ago.

The 52-year-old Slim Shady rapper's show was part of the festivities at the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix.

As he took the stage, the Grammy-winning rapper (born Marshall Mathers) performed his track, Without Me, which detailed his strained relationship from his mom.

The scathing song includes the lyrics, 'F**k you Debbie,' which he didn't sing, but the crowd did.

The Lose Yourself hitmaker and his mother were largely estranged his whole life and he touches on their complicated relationship dynamics on multiple albums.

Eminem's first breakout hit, 1999's My Name Is, also features lines slamming his mother. 

'I just found out my mom does more dope than I do (Damn). I told her I'd grow up to be a famous rapper. Make a record about doin' drugs and name it after her.'

His 2002 hit Cleanin' Out My Closet, also contains lines about his mom. In one he branded her a 'selfish b****' who he hoped would 'burn in h**l', while another track accused her of sprinkling Valium on his food as a child.

Debbie sued her son for $10 million in a defamation lawsuit over the lyrics about her in My Name Is. 

Ultimately, the case was settled for $25,000 and most of that went to pay Debbie's attorneys. In the end, she only received $1,600. 

The pair seemed to set aside their differences briefly when Debbie was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 but three years ago, their relationship took a turn for the worse again.

But her death brings to an end any chance of a reconciliation between Eminem and his mother.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member has yet to comment publicly on his mother's death, but his half-brother Nathan Mathers had plenty to say. 

Nathan posted an Instagram Story in which he said he was filled with 'hatred and mixed emotions today.' 

Nate's stinging response comes after years of turbulence in his relationship with his mother, which ended in Eminem getting custody of Nate when he was a teenager.

At aged eight, Nate's life was upended when he was placed in foster care, and Eminem said he vowed to 'get in a position to take him' back in – adding to Rolling Stone in 2004: 'I tried to apply for full custody when I was 20, but I didn't have the means.'

Nate was eventually adopted by his rap legend half-brother when he was16, and Nate said he became a father figure to him.

In a rare interview with Eminem's daughter, Hailie Jade, on her podcast, Just a Little Shady, in 2023, Nate said: 'He was the best role model I could have had to help me be the dad that I am today.'

Nate has gone on to work in the music industry, like his brother, and releases music under the name Nate Kane.