Eminem allegedly didn't visit 'terminally ill' mom Debbie Nelson before her death amid tense relationship

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Eminem might not have visited his mother, Debbie Nelson, with whom he shared a rocky relationship, before she died at the age of 69. 

The 52-year-old rapper's longtime representative, Dennis Dennehy, confirmed the news to the media on Tuesday, December 3, but didn't specify what caused her death.

A source shared with In Touch Weekly in September that Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III, did not visit his mother even when she was "terminally ill" with lung cancer. However, they did not entirely blame the rapper as they questioned whether he knew the severity of the situation.

Eminem apparently did not visit mom Debbie Nelson while she was battling lung cancer

The insider shared at that time, "She is terminally ill with advanced lung cancer," before adding, "There are not many options [for Debbie]. She is currently staying between the cancer center and with family members. She has a very limited amount of time [left]," as reported by The Mirror.

They further shared that while Eminem was supporting her financially, he did not communicate with her or his other family members, leading many to believe he was probably unaware of the severity of Nelson’s cancer. 

"People around her aren't even sure if Eminem is even aware of what is happening to his mother," the source noted, before adding, "He's good to his mom. He makes sure he takes care of her, but they don't really talk. It would be good for both of them [to communicate]. This could give them the chance to reconcile." 

However, it remains unknown whether they reconciled before her death. 

Eminem and his mother Debbie Nelson's rocky relationship

Eminem and his mother had been at odds for more than two decades. In his 1999 song 'My Name Is' from 'The Slim Shady LP', he sang about telling his mother in his childhood that he’d "grow up to be a famous rapper / make a record about doin' drugs and name it after her."

Later that year, Nelson sued Eminem for defamation and received a $25,000 settlement. She also slammed her son and denied his accusations in the 2001 track, 'Dear Marshall', on the rap group ID-X's 'Set the Record Straight'.

Her son fired back at her in 2002 when he sang about their estranged relationship in his single, 'Cleanin’ Out My Closet'. He urged the listeners to "envision witnessin' your mama poppin' prescription pills in the kitchen" while detailing Nelson's estranged relationship with him and his daughter, Hailie Jade.

Eminem sang, "And Hailie’s gettin' so big now, you should see her she’s beautiful/ But you’ll never see her, she won’t even be at your funeral. See, what hurts me the most is you won’t admit you was wrong / B****h, do your song, keep tellin’ yourself that you was a mom! But how dare you try to take what you didn’t help me to get / You selfish b***h, I hope you f**kin burn in hell for this s**t."

In 2008, when Nelson was promoting her memoir, 'My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem', she admitted she wanted to bridge the gap with her son.

She told Village Voice, per The Mirror, "I'm not ever gonna give up on my kids. There's hope for everybody. It's a matter of just basically swallowing your pride."

Staying firm in her conviction that she had to be resolute to make Eminem the star he is today, Nelson shared, "Somebody had to get behind him, honey, to get him where he is today. I know there was many times he felt defeated and wanted to give up."

"Somebody had to get behind him to push him. And it sure as hell wasn't anybody else except me," declared the ‘Rap God’ star’s mother.

In 2009, Eminem released 'My Mom', where he once again mourned about Nelson being the one responsible for his drug addiction. 

He rapped, "My mom loved Valium and lots of drugs / That's why I am like I am 'cause I'm like her / Because my mom loved Valium and lots of drugs / That's why I'm on what I'm on 'cause I'm my mom!" as per E! News.

Nevertheless, he later admitted his love for his mother during a BET interview in 2011.

"Even though we don’t really speak, she is my mother, I do love her, and I think I got a better understanding of what she was going through or what she may be going through," shared Eminem. 

In his 2013 track, 'Headlights', the rapper issued an apology to his mother, singing, "I went in headfirst, never thinkin' about who what I said hurt / In what verse, my mom probably got it the worst / The brunt of it, but as stubborn as we are, did I take it too far? / 'Cleanin' Out My Closet' and all them other songs / But regardless, I don't hate you ‘cause, Ma / You're still beautiful to me, ‘cause you're my mom."

He further sang, "‘Cause to this day we remain estranged and I hate it though / 'Cause you ain't even get to witness your grandbabies grow / But I'm sorry, Mama, for 'Cleanin' Out My Closet' / At the time I was angry, rightfully? Maybe so / Never meant that far to take it, though / 'Cause now I know it's not your fault, and I'm not makin' jokes / That song I no longer play at shows / And I cringe every time it's on the radio."