Eminem: Gay Slurs Are Generic Insults, Not Homophobic

Rapper Eminem, facing criticism for his use of gay slurs in his song "Rap God," is now telling Rolling Stone he doesn't think the language is antigay but rather a generic insult, "like calling someone a bitch or a punk or asshole."

The song, from his upcoming album The Marshall Mathers LP 2, includes the lyrics "I'll still be able to break a motherfuckin' table / Over the back of a couple of faggots and crack it in half," and "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."

In an excerpt from an upcoming cover story posted on Rolling Stone's website today, interviewer Brian Hiatt asks Eminem, "You've made it clear again and again that you don't actually have a problem with gay people. So why, in 2013, use 'faggot' on that song? Why use 'gay-looking' as an insult?" The rapper responds, "When I came up battle-rappin' or whatever, I never really equated those words ... "

"To actually mean 'homosexual'?" Hiatt interjects. Eminem says, "Yeah. It was more like calling someone a bitch or a punk or asshole." Eminem adds, "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."

The cover story is due to be published November 22.