Eminem and his half-brother, Nathan “Nate” Mathers, lost their mother, Debbie Nelson, on Sunday, December 2, at the age of 69 after a battle with lung cancer. The rapper’s complicated history with his mother is well known, but Nathan’s social media post following her death provided a glimpse into their family dynamic.
When the news broke, Nate shared a black screen on his Instagram story with the message: "Hatred and mixed emotions today."
© NathankanemathersWhile Eminem’s fame often overshadows his brother, the two share a history of hardship. Both have spoken about their tumultuous upbringing, and Nathan’s post reflects the complicated emotions tied to their past.
Nathan's childhood
Nathan was born in 1986 when Eminem was 13, to their mom, Debbie, and her boyfriend Fred Samra. Sadly, Nathan spent nearly a decade in foster care. Eminem described the traumatizing event in a 2004 Rolling Stone interview, recalling how Nathan was suddenly taken from school. "He didn’t know what the f--- was going on. The same thing that had happened in my life was happening in his," he said.
Eminem vowed to take Nathan in and applied for legal guardianship at 20 but “didn’t have the means.” At 27, he finally gained custody when Nathan was 16, amid his legal battles with their mother.
Where is Nathan today?
Nathan followed in Eminem’s footsteps, pursuing music and acting. He credits Eminem for teaching him the craft and during an appearance on his niece Hailie Jade’s podcast, Just a Little Shady, he shared, "I learned from your dad, my brother, how to do music and write formulas." By experimenting with his voice and writing skills, Nathan eventually grew confident enough to record and produce his own songs.
In 2009, he released “Slide on Over,” which he later performed at his niece Alaina Scott’s wedding reception, per People. Nathan also appeared in movies like Devil’s Night: Dawn of the Nain Rouge and starred in some of Eminem’s iconic music videos, including “Without Me” and “Sing for the Moment.”
He’s a family man
Like his brother, Eminem is a dad. Nathan married Ashley Mae Mathers in 2018, and they have three children: Audrianna, Liam, and Carter. While talking to Jade, Nathan reflected on his brother’s influence: "He was the best role model I could have had to help me be the dad that I am today."
