Eminem explains why he has dissed late ‘Superman’ star Christopher Reeve 44 times in his songs

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Eminem has directed his lyrical jabs at many celebrities over the years, but none more frequently than the late 'Superman' actor Christopher Reeve.

Fans on Reddit have tallied an impressive 44 references to Reeve across Eminem’s discography, making this an unusual focal point for the rapper’s barbed rhymes, reported Ladbible.com.

Eminem explains why he keeps dropping Christopher Reeve's name in his tracks

The late 'Superman' actor has reportedly been referred in Eminem's songs at least 44 times, according to eagle-eyed Reddit users who speculate this could be the "ultimate rap beef". Many fans found Eminem's lyrical digs at Reeve problematic, especially considering the late actor's tragic paralysis following a 1995 accident in Culpeper, Virginia.

During an equestrian competition, he was thrown from his horse, suffering catastrophic injuries that shattered his first and second cervical vertebrae and severely damaged his spinal cord. The accident left Reeve paralyzed, confined to a wheelchair, and dependent on a ventilator for breathing. He died on October 10, 2004, at the age of 52.

Reeve starred in the 1978 original 'Superman' movie and three sequels later on, until 1987.

Yet, Eminem has consistently dropped Reeve’s name in his music, from playful taunts in tracks like 'Purple Pills' to biting lines in songs like 'Medicine Ball'.

In the 2009 track, Eminem raps, “Put Christopher Reeves on a unicycle with a kickstand... lead him right into quicksand,” leaving fans puzzled about why he repeatedly invokes the actor.

Some have speculated about a deep-seated grudge, but Eminem has clarified the reasoning himself.

In the track 'Rain Man', Eminem clarified that his remarks about the actor were rooted in a childhood memory, stating, "And let's clear this up too; I ain't got no beef with him either. He used to be like a hero to me, I even believe I had one of those 25-cent stickers on my refrigerator, right next to Darth Vader."

In 'Medicine Ball', Eminem addressed the backlash over his references to Reeve, saying, "Now everybody’s mad at me, like it’s my fault his name rhymes with so many different words, jeez!"

So, it appears that Eminem keeps dropping Reeve's name in his lyrics because the name is easy to weave into the rhymes.

Even in more recent years, Reeve’s memory remains a part of Eminem’s lyrical landscape. In the song 'Brand New Dance' from his 2024 album 'The Death of Slim Shady' (Coup de Grace), the rapper sings, “Get up, everybody on the dance floor, come on. That means you too, Chris.”

He later adds, “This is my Chris anthem... I’m givin’ Chris Reeves his chrysanthemums.”

Though the jokes may not land well with everyone, Eminem insists there’s no ill will behind his lyrics. For better or worse, the '8 Mile' star has kept Reeve’s legacy alive in pop culture.

Fans weigh in on Eminem’s lyrical obsession with Christopher Reeve

Eminem’s repeated references to Christopher Reeve in his music have sparked curiosity and debate among fans for years. While the rapper has clarified that there’s no personal grudge against the late 'Superman' star, many believe his excessive name-dropping comes down to the simplicity of rhyming Reeve’s name with other lyrics.

Fans on Reddit have been buzzing about the so-called “Reeve drama", offering their own theories about why the actor has become such a consistent subject in Eminem’s tracks.

One user pointed out, “I think in the beginning he was using Reeves as a rhyme scheme. He said in an interview (I think with Anderson Cooper) that he just pulls celebrity names ‘out of a hat.’ He probably liked all the controversy from targeting Reeves and ran with it.”

Another fan added, “Eminem loves comic books and heroes. His name just rhymes well.”

One Redditor speculated, “I think it started off as a harmless rhyme scheme, and then he kept mentioning him to offend people.”

“Why does he keep mentioning him in every song?” one user commented, while another quipped, “New album, same question. Like a never-ending story.”

Despite the controversy, some fans see genius in the rapper’s tactics. One person noted, “This is gold years later—man knew what he was doing.”

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