February, 21st 2001
THAT DAY.............................ELTON JOHN , during the 2001 Grammy awards ceremony, performed "Stan" with the rapper EMINEM, who was at the time, the center piece of a big controversy with the gay community.
Eminem is an American rapper, record producer and actor known as one of the most controversial and best-selling artists of the early 21st century.
Born in 1972, Marshall Matters, his real name, fell in love with HIP HOP and released in early 1999, The Slim Shady LP , and the album went multi-platinum, garnering Eminem two Grammy Awards and four MTV Video Music Awards. In 2000, the rapper released The Marshall Mathers LP, which was noted as the fastest-selling album in rap history
With dr DRE, to back it up , the talented artist was just crushing the competition....BUT In 2001, the Detroit rapper has been attacked about some of his lyrics.
Eminem's lyrics, were described as violent, homophobic and misogynistic. . A group of organizations led by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and the National Organization for Women had planned to lead a protest outside Los Angeles' Staples Center before the February 21st live broadcast of the grammy award ceremony.
IT WAS REALLY BIG BACK THEN.
This is the context where the 43rd annual Grammy Awards took place on February, 21st 2001. The show featured performances by Faith Hill, Destiny’s Child and others…., But the most anticipated was the duet between Eminem who was accused of homophobia and gay community diplomat Elton John. The icon of sweet melodies and extra large sunglasses will perform folk singer Dido’s vocal part on ”Stan.
The news of this duet provoked a storm of protest from activist groups such as the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), which released a statement saying that it was ”appalled that John would share the stage with Eminem, whose words and actions promote hate and violence” against gays and lesbians”. They thought that Elton John’s identity as a gay person, was used as as a prop to dismiss accusations of homophobia.
Eminem said later "If I didn't make a statement with Elton John tonight, I don't know what else to do," Elton said for his part that he would ”rather tear down walls between people than build them up. If I thought for one minute that he was hateful, I wouldn’t do it.”
"For me, Eminem was never homophobic," he said. "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. Not how he thinks, but the way things are."
This was a defining moment in Em career and Elton was there, of course, to prove that Eminem was not homophobic— a label that could have make a lot of damage to Eminem's career. The moment worked. Eminem was never accused of homophobia (to that level) after that and he had the journey that we know today.
That Grammy performance was the start of a lovely friendship and I’m grateful for that. Rapper Eminem and pop legend Elton John have shared a close friendship since first coming together for this duet. Ever since their unexpected performance, the two have remained friends, mentioning each other a number of times in interviews over the years.
To know more about the subject:
Elton John on Being the Top Male Solo Artist of All Time". Billboard. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
About: All About Elton: Bio". Elton John. Archived from the original on 15 July 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
Songwriters Hall of Fame – Bernie Taupin Biography". songwritershalloffame.org. Archived from the original on 18 June 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
John, Elton (8 October 2012). "The historic fight for equality must go on. Let's get on and legalise same-sex marriage". The Independent. London.
Michaels, Sean (9 December 2013). "Elton John voices gay rights concerns at Moscow concert". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
Eminem is Billboard artist of the decade". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
One horrific moment in Eminem's life made him the rapper that he is today". Joe.
Eminem's Biography". Fox News. Archived from the original on March 22, 2008. Retrieved April 23, 2008.
Basham, David (February 10, 2001). "Eminem, Elton John To Duet At Grammys". MTV News. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
