Eminem defends lyrics, denies homophobic claims

Los Angeles: Eminem may continue to use gay slurs in his lyrics but the rapper says he has no issue with “gay, straight, transgender” people. The 41-year-old rapper’s latest album ‘Marshall Mathers LP 2’ releases tomorrow and it is already garnering negative publicity for the use of such words. Eminem, however, defended his lyrics in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine. “I don’t know how to say this without saying it how I’ve said it a million times. But that word, those kind of words, when I came up battle-rappin’ or whatever, I never really equated those words…” [caption id=“attachment_1212187” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  AP[/caption] “To actually mean ‘homosexual’?” the reporter interjected. “Yeah… I poke fun at other people, myself. But the real me sitting here right now talking to you has no issues with gay, straight, transgender, at all. I’m glad we live in a time where it’s really starting to feel like people can live their lives and express themselves. And I don’t know how else to say this, I still look at myself the same way that I did when I was battling and broke.” Eminem said he has been in music for 14 years and his fans are familiar with his personal stance on such issues by now. “I think people know my personal stance on things and the personas that I create in my music. And if someone doesn’t understand that by now, I don’t think there’s anything I can do to change their mind about it,” he added. PTI