Eminem faces criticism for a ‘disgusting’ reference to the Megan Thee Stallion shooting in his latest single “Houdini,” leading fans to label him ‘pathetic’

Eminem is under fire for rapping about Megan Thee Stallion’s shooting in his latest track Houdini.

The online drama began after the 51-year-old rapper dropped the lead single off his upcoming 12th studio album The Death of Slim Shady on Friday.

Critics honed in on a lyric that appears to reference the 2020 incident where the Hiss hitmaker was shot in the feet by Tory Lanez.

‘If I was to ask for Megan Thee Stallion if she would collab with me/Would I really have a shot at a feat?’ Eminem sings.

The backlash quickly ensued on social media, with fans condemning the Oscar winner for seemingly poking fun at Megan Thee Stallion’s ‘traumatic’ experience.

Eminem is under fire for rapping about Megan Thee Stallion’s shooting in his latest track Houdini; (pictured 2020)

Critics honed in on a lyric that appears to reference the 2020 incident where the Hiss hitmaker was shot in the feet by Tory Lanez; (pictured 2024)

‘F*** this guy. Men love to bring up traumatic moments in women’s lives for attention. Leave Megan alone,’ posted a fan.

‘This is so random & disgusting did he think he ate or something?’ one wrote, as another chimed in, ‘This is such low hanging fruit. It’s so unbelievably pathetic.’

An X user shared: ‘Eminem’s career has largely been built on being shocking and provocative to certain audiences … Being 51 years old and taking shots at Megan Thee Stallion? Out of touch.’

Another criticized Eminem for targeting Megan Thee Stallion despite being a father himself.

‘So Eminem returns with SLIM SHADY & jumps right into the TORY LANEZ & MEGAN THEE STALLION drama. UHN UHN EM – it’s a NO for me. This worked in the 2000’s with your counterparts but a play on words with someone’s trauma & a black woman at that …

‘I can’t support it. As old as you are – I know you know you better ( or at least you should ) You have a daughter – a grown married daughter at that,’ they wrote.

The digs continued, as one of Megan’s fans shared: ‘This man really using female rap beef to cling onto his declining career I’m cringe.’

Megan wasn’t the only celeb mentioned on Houdini, as Eminem also takes aim at famous drag queen RuPaul, Sherri Papini, who is accused of faking her own kidnapping and the disgraced R. Kelly.

The backlash quickly ensued on social media, with fans condemning the Oscar winner for seemingly poking fun at Megan Thee Stallion’s ‘traumatic’ experience

He slams the three kids his shares with ex-wife Kim Scott as ‘brats’ – just days after sharing the first dance with his eldest Hailie Jade Scott, 28, at her wedding.

Hailie and her siblings Alaina Scott and Stevie Laine Scott appear via FaceTime call as they react to their dad’s jab with exaggerated disgust.

The Houdini music video pays homage to Eminem’s 2002 hit Without Me.

He plays multiple versions of his past self — including his iconic bleach blond buzzcut Slim Shady era — in the near shot-for-shot remake.

It sees Eminem and Dr. Dre back as Batman and Robin as they ride around Gotham in a yellow Lamborghini.

A blonde Pete Davidson resembles a young Eminem in one memorable scene that pokes fun at the SNL alum’s repeat 2023 car wrecks — one of which saw him charged with reckless driving.

He was ordered to complete 50 hours of community service and 12 hours of traffic school in order to avoid a criminal offense for crashing his Mercedes into a home in Beverly Hills in March 2023.

Pete checked himself into an in-patient treatment facility that July to address mental health issues.

In the music video, Pete reassures Eminem that he’s ‘a great driver’ as he takes over the wheel from Dr. Dre.

‘Don’t worry. I just got my license back!’ he say before slamming his foot on the gas.

Eminem dropped his brand new song Houdini on Thursday night along with a star-studded music video that included cameos from Pete Davidson , 50 Cent and Dr.Dre

The Detroit-born MC also takes aim at famous drag queen RuPaul, Sherri Papini, who is accused of faking her own kidnapping and convicted rapist R. Kelly

He also slams the three kids his shares with ex-wife Kim Scott as ‘brats’ – just days after sharing the first dance with his eldest Hailie Jade Scott, 28, at her wedding. Hailie and her siblings Alaina Scott and Stevie Laine Scott appear via FaceTime call as they react to their dad’s jab with disgust

A blonde Pete Davidson resembles a young Eminem in one memorable scene that pokes fun at the SNL alum’s repeat 2023 car wrecks — one of which saw him charged with reckless driving

Eminem plays multiple versions of his past self — including his iconic bleach blond buzzcut Slim Shady era

Eminem looks fearful as Pete takes his hands off the wheel, head bangs and then swerves into traffic before slamming into several cars.

50 Cent and Snoop Dogg appear via selfie footage as they ‘call in’ to Eminem at the start of the music video.

Eminem sent social media ablaze last Wednesday when he teased his new musical era.

He did so by sharing a cryptic post that left questioning whether the bizarre clip he posted could mean Slim Shady’s 12th studio album will also be his last.

Posting to his official accounts on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, the 15-time Grammy winner uploaded a mysterious video of an open iMessage chat, dated Friday May 31 at 12am.

Addressed to ‘All Contacts,’ the message was initially blurred before it came together to read: ‘…and for my last trick!’

The profile picture of the contact was an emoji-style cartoon of a rabbit wearing a top hat – and the rap star also changed his own social media profile pictures to the same one.

In April, Eminem announced his 12th studio album, which will be titled The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup de Grace).

The Houdini music video is an homage to Eminem’s 2002 hit Without Me

It sees Eminem and Dr. Dre back as Batman and Robin as they ride around Gotham in a yellow Lamborghini

In the music video, Davidson reassures Eminem that he’s ‘a great driver’ as he takes over the wheel from Dr. Dre

‘

Don’t worry. I just got my license back!’ he say before slamming his foot on the gas

Snoop Dogg appears at the start of the video via FaceTime

… as does rapper 50 Cent

Breaking the news on stage in Motor City to kick off the NFL Draft, he revealed that it will be released this summer without giving a concrete release date.

This will be his first album since Music to be Murdered By, an album he released by surprise in January 2020, just months before the COVID-19 lockdown.

Now, fans are convinced that the strange clip could be a clue for when the superstar will release a single from the album, or even the entire thing.

Frantically taking to X, divided fans of the superstar began theorizing – with some worried that the wording could be hinting that it will be his last ever album:

‘WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?????’

‘If this is Em’s final album, it’s going to be heartbreaking for me #SlimShady #Stan.’

‘Eminem possibly dropping his final album is a big bummer.’

‘So you retiring after this huh?’

‘This better NOT be your last!!!!’

‘Eminem just a tease. Release the damn album bro!’

‘I’m hoping this is just Slim Shady’s final album. Because it’s literally called The Death Of Slim Shady.

‘This is Slim Shady’s Coupe de Grâce because he’s getting too old to be playing Slim Shady at his age. This is just a guess though, hoping he’s not done with music.’

‘Friday May 31st at 12 a.m. new song or new album, that is the question’.

Eminem sent social media ablaze last Wednesday when he teased his new musical era

Posting to his official accounts on X (formerly Twitter ) and Instagram, the 15-time Grammy winner posted a mysterious video of an open iMessage chat, dated Friday May 31 at 12am

Addressed to ‘All Contacts,’ the message was initially blurred, before it came together to read: ‘…and for my last trick!’ suggesting this is his big musical finale

‘Last Eminem album ever…?’

‘Album?? Here we gooo’.

‘Next Friday?!?!? Ahhhhh I hope this isn’t your last though!’

However, other fans think that the post could be a nod to Eminem’s character Jimmy ‘B-Rabbit’ Smith from 8 Mile, and a new era for the star is on the horizon.

Social media users guessed:

‘B-RABBIT VS. SLIM SHADY???’

‘I’m ’bout to say ‘Abracadabra’ and pull a B-Rabbit up outta my hat’ #Eminem #TheDeathOfSlimShady’

‘B-Rabbit dropping a song…?’

The initial album announcement came in the form of a true-crime style of promo – much in the same vein of the popular 80s and 90s crime series Unsolved Mysteries.

The ‘show’ was called Detroit Murder Files, with a trench-coat wearing announcer stating, ‘Through his complex and oft-criticized tongue-twisting rhymes, the blond anti-hero named Slim Shady has had no shortage of enemies.’

The promo cuts to an interview with 50 Cent, who Eminem discovered more than 20 years ago and signed him to his Shady Records label.

‘He’s not a friend. He’s a psychopath,’ the rapper says in the promo, before taking a deep breath to calm himself.

Frantically taking to X, divided fans of the superstar began theorizing – with some worried that the wording could be hinting that it will be his last ever album

The announcer returns and says, ‘The same rude lyrics and controversial antics may have ultimately lead to his demise.’

A person whose face and voice are disguised is being interviewed as he asks, ‘Who killed Slim Shady?’

The announcer adds, ‘So join us as we re-create the events that lead to the murder of Slim Shady as they show some gruesome crime scene images of Slim laying prone on top of a car with a knife sticking out of his chest.

The person whose face and voice are disguised returns and says, ‘I knew it was only a matter of time for Slim,’ though he moves his face, revealing it’s Eminem himself.