Eminem’s half-brother, Nathan “Nate” Mathers, shared a candid and emotional reaction following the death of their mother, Debbie Nelson. Taking to Instagram, Nate expressed “hatred and mixed emotions” about her passing at 69 from lung cancer. The statement highlights the complex relationship Nate and Eminem had with Debbie, marked by years of instability.
Nate’s childhood was particularly turbulent; he was placed in foster care at age eight due to their mother’s struggles, with their father absent. Eminem, then 23, tried to gain custody of Nate, vowing to rescue him if he ever had the means. He succeeded when Nate turned 16, becoming a key figure in his brother’s life.
Despite their difficult past, Nate has previously praised Eminem for being a positive role model, calling him “the best role model I could have had.” Debbie’s death, however, has reopened unresolved feelings for Nate, reflecting the complicated history of the Mathers family.
Eminem has not yet publicly commented on his mother’s death. Over the years, their relationship was the subject of several of his songs, some of which he later regretted, highlighting the longstanding tension and occasional reconciliation attempts between them.
