A new Eminem song called What If I Told You I Was Gay? has leaked online.
A collaboration with fellow rapper Joyner Lucas – who previously collaborated with the star on his album, Kamikaze – the 13-second clip features lyrics such as, “What if I’m a hypocrite who’s just afraid to face truth? Wait, what if I told you I’m gay too?”
The track has received a mixed response from fans and critics due to Eminem’s sordid past with the LGBTQ community.
“Eminem isn’t gay. He’s just trying to stay relevant,” opined one fan, while another wrote: “People over hear freaking out over a new Eminem verse where he says what if he was gay. He’s making a storytelling song, calm your ass down.”
Throughout his career, Eminem has come under fire for his use of homophobic language. On Kamikaze, he was slammed by critics for rapping – in reference to Tyler the Creator: “I see why you called yourself a faggot, bitch.”
Last year however, he showed remorse for hitting out at Tyler.
He told Sway: “The word that I called him on that song was one of the things where I felt like this might be too far. In my quest to hurt him, I realize that I was hurting a lot of other people by saying it. I wasn’t in the right mind frame. I was angry.”
In 2013, he claimed to have “no issue” with gay people. He said: “Not saying it’s wrong or it’s right, but at this point in my career – man, I say so much shit 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.”
Eminem is close friends with Elton John, and he reportedly gave him and his husband matching cock rings as a wedding gift.
Speaking to The Guardian, Sir Elton said: “Eminem bought me and David matching cock rings when we got married. That was his gift. They sit there, like the crown jewels, in this beautiful box on satin cushions.
“They’re wonderful to look at. I don’t know if any guests we’ve had have used them. God, I hope not. They’re kind of sacrosanct. The fact they came from Eminem makes it even better.”
Related: Troye Sivan criticises Eminem’s use of anti-gay slurs on Kamikaze.
Related: Imagine Dragons’ Dan Reynolds slams Eminem over “hateful” anti-gay lyrics.
Related: Eminem clarifies his claim that he uses gay app Grindr to find dates.