Eminem insists he does not trawl Grindr for dates, after baffling fans with claim
NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 13: Lady Gaga (C) accepts the award for “Best New Artist” from Eminem during the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on September 13, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)
Eminem has clarified that he doesn’t actually look for love on Grindr.
The rapper, who has just released his first album in four years to mixed reviews, confused fans with his comments earlier this week in an interview with Vulture.
The performer admitted he found dating “tough” since his divorce, and spoke about turning to the internet.
He said “It’s tough. Since my divorce I’ve had a few dates and nothing’s panned out in a way that I wanted to make it public. Dating’s just not where I’m at lately.”
Eminem (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
The star added that he had turned to “Tinder and Grindr… I also used to go to strip clubs.”
Elton John and Eminem perform in 2001. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
The rapper had never expressed an interest in men before, so fans were taken aback by the suggestion that he trawls Grindr to find love.
But he has since clarified that the comments were, as we suspected, less than earnest.
His spokesperson said: “I’m confirming that he was joking about using both Tinder and Grindr.”
It would be particularly surprising given his history of homophobic lyrics.
Eminem has previously claimed that his use of anti-gay slurs such as “dyke” and “faggot” are not actually aimed at the LGBT community – although many may argue that if he does not wish to offend the gay community, then the logical move would to use such overtly homophobic lyrics.
In a song titled Criminal on his second studio album. The Marshall Mathers LP, Eminem’s lyrics include: “My words are like a dagger with a jagged edge/ That’ll stab you in the head, whether you’re a fag or lez/ Or the homosex, hermaph or a trans-a-vest/Pants or dress? Hate fags? The answer’s yes”.
The singer previously also came under fire for homophobic lyrics in his 2013 single ‘Rap God’.
He was told Rolling Stone that he hadn’t used the words “fag” or “faggot” in a homophobic way, saying he hadn’t “really equated” they would come across that way.
He said: “That word, those kind of words, when I came up battle-rappin’ or whatever, I never really equated those words . . .”
“Yeah. It was more like calling someone a bitch or a punk or asshole. So that word was just thrown around so freely back then.”
Many found it a hard line to believe though, with the very first verse talking about breaking “a mother****ing table over the back of a couple faggots and crack it in half,” before adding, “You fags think it’s all a game.”
The second verse continues: “Little gay-looking boy / So gay I can barely say it with a straight face-looking boy.
“You witnessing massacre like you watching a church gathering taking place-looking boy / ‘Oy vey, that boy’s gay,’ that’s all they say looking-boy.”
In 2015 he turned his fire on Caitlyn Jenner, rapping: “I invented prick, and that’s a true statement, I see the bitch in you, Caitlyn / I keep the pistol tucked like Bruce Jenner’s dick.”
Sir Elton John has previously backed the star, insisting he never thought he was homophobic.
He added the singer was “always a supporter of the people that are getting trashed”.
He told interviewer Zane Lowe: “For me Eminem was never homophobic.
“I listened to the whole of the Marshall Mathers album when I drove to a show in South Hampton and I was floored by it.
“And I thought how could anyone think this is… he’s just writing about the way things are.”
Sir Elton added: “Not how he thinks but the way things are. And the same with Axl [Rose].
“Never in a million years did I think he was homophobic.
“So I did things. I did the MTV Music Awards with him and the Guns N’ Roses and I did the Grammys with Marshall [Eminem] and I became very big friends with Marshall.
“I’ll fight for anyone who is misunderstood and misrepresented by the idiots out there.”
In 2010, Eminem came out in support of same-sex marriage, surprising many.
He said: “I think if two people love each other, then what the hell? I think that everyone should have the chance to be equally miserable, if they want.
“It’s the new tolerant me! My overall look on things is a lot more mature than it used to be.”
