Eminem On '60 Minutes': If I Was Black I Wouldn't Be Called Misogynist, Homophobic (VIDEO)

Anderson Cooper interviewed Eminem on '60 Minutes' Sunday night, and the rapper talked about his rough upbringing, how he writes his rhymes and his near-fatal overdose.

Anderson also asked Eminem about being accused of being a misogynist and homophobe, and Eminem said he's been branded with these labels because he is white.

"I felt like I was being attacked," he replied. "I was being singled out. I felt like, 'Is it because of the color of my skin? Is it because of that that you're paying more attention?' There are certain rappers that do and say the same things that I'm saying and I don't hear no one say anything about that."

Eminem went on to say that while he throws around the word 'fa**ot,' he has no problem with anyone and each parent needs to be responsible for their own kids.

50 Cent recently made comments that were construed by some as anti-gay, and he did not get a free pass because he is black.

WATCH:

Comments

[believer131]

10:44 PM on 10/16/2010

I am a Bible-believing Christian and I believe that homosexual behavior (as well as many other behaviors) is a sin. I love gay people just as I love myself and others who are guilty of sinning. (We are all sinners saved by grace.) Does that make me a homophobe? Does homophobe mean that a person has a fear of homsexuals? Or does it just mean anyone who believes that homosexual behavior is one of many sins that we all commit? Sometimes I feel like I am being bullied and called names because I am a Christian that believes in God and believes that the Word of God is the will of God. I accept that many people do not believe what I believe and that we all have choices when it comes to our beliefs. So I think that gay people have the must be accepted by society and considered equal in every way. But I will always believe what the Bible says and no one will ever turn me away from my beliefs in God and the Word. Does that make me a homophobe? I just want to make sure that I understand what the word means since it is being used so much these days.

[Daniel Haro]

01:14 AM on 11/13/2010

do you also believe eating shelfish is a sin and that keeping slaves of neighboring nations is ok?

[wilray]

03:39 PM on 10/15/2010

Think of all the ways you use the word black that are negative. Hell most of the usages of the word black are negative. Yet, I dissociate myself from those meanings. Most of the usages of the word have negative connotations and meanings all the way up to a meaning of pure evil. About the only positive usage of the word Black is a financial one - to be in the Black is a good thing. Just think how many times the word black has been used negatively in a movie. You can even look at the titles of movies. Of course, I am certain that many of you who are not Black, think that Black people would be overly sensitive to take offense at those negative usages.

[wilray]

03:53 PM on 10/15/2010

Ignore the posting above, it was not meant for this thread.

[KikoJones]

12:48 AM on 10/14/2010

As absurd as it may be, Eminem might be on to something: perhaps because hip-hop is predominantly black and its strong undercurrent of homophobia has become a given for so long, a different attitude was expected from Mr. Mathers, quite possibly due to the color of his skin. Which, of course, would be racist, since you're basically saying you thought the nice white boy wouldn't be as crude and unenlightened as his black counterparts.

Personally, I never expected much tolerance in this regard from a genre that has none-to-few openly gay artists and quite a number of homophobic songs in its collective catalog. Hell, even the great Chuck D has partaken in the homophobia. Which is why hip-hop fans can't have it both ways: lauding rappers' rhymes and intricate wordplay on the one hand, while looking the other way and ignoring the intolerance in anti-gay lyrics.

[Balzac]

02:06 AM on 10/14/2010

It's a difference in style. If Eminem parsed his language into smaller fragments and trimmed his sentences, his homophobic content wouldn't stand out as much.

Also, a less serious demeanor would leave people more inclined to take your unkind words less seriously. Eminem needs to man up and just say it directly. He's still pissed he had to sing a duet with Elton John. (Kidding.) Music is music.

The main thing is that people realize we aren't going to magically agree about things - not now, not ever. They need to get comfortable with the idea, not worn down by it. We're not all going to become agreeable, just because of the Internet let's us share our drivel so effortlessly.

I'm becoming more comfortable than ever with the idea of opposing gay marriage for men. I'd say let women marry. I might change my mind later. I would have to see two men who are an exemplary couple, who would not harbor any jealousy or resentment of me, even if I should marry five women, or a child bride like David Koresh. I'm just saying this to be disagreeable.

[The Notorious PDF]

09:35 AM on 10/14/2010

And Chuck D. was gone after for that percieved homophobia, just like Eminem was, which directly refutes his hypothesis. Chuck D., KRS-One and Common all come to mind as black rappers who people went after for percieved homophobia (Common was gone after hard for using the "F" word on a song on his outstanding 2000 release, "LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE", and he responded by writing a song on his next album about the struggle of a friend coming out---struggling with his sexual feelings, being shunned and having his family turn his back on him, etc---and how he continued to love, respect and support that friend). So, they went after Common around the exact same time that they went after Eminem. It's just that Common's album--which is *much* better by the way--sold about 500,000 units and Eminem's sold 8,000,000 plus. That, combined with the things Eminem actually *said*, are the reasons he was a bigger target.

[mbroo]

11:25 AM on 10/14/2010

I remember Common's..."Between Me and You, Liberation" off the Electric Circus cd.

[jmyoung666]

05:24 AM on 10/15/2010

Not in the mainstream press.

[CMars86]

07:04 PM on 10/13/2010

I think a lot of music nowadays contains homophobic and misogynistic lyrics...black, white, wtf-ever...it's not OK. If we as a society are expected to just 'accept' this fact, we should at least be able to call a spade a spade.

[kenhamlett]

10:34 PM on 10/13/2010

I agree completely. I do not understand why this is tolerated. If the lyrics contained intolerant references about men or African-Americans or straights, there would be an uproar -- and it it would be appropriate. But, why is there no uproar when those victimized are women and gays? None of these artists are admirable. Those who have any talent, and perhaps this young man has some, should be redirecting it toward fixing what they have helped break!

[TheEducator49]

10:23 PM on 10/14/2010

Yeah right. Because straight men are really protected in our society. Not a day goes by where you don't see people called out on "misandrous content."

Oh wait...

[machivellianX]

06:10 PM on 10/13/2010

very cool guy...maybe not a role model, but he never claimed he was.

[jonjon tha 5 8]

05:02 PM on 10/13/2010

Listening to Eminem's stuff, you don't really get the impression he's a "homophobe." He throws around some words just like a lot of rappers do, but he doesn't appear to be obsessed with hating on gay people the way your average Christian conservative pillar-of-the-community is. He even consented to get a facefull of Bruno's butt for a joke. He throws around some offensive words that are a part of the hip-hop vernacular, and obviously hip-hop DOES have a kind of overly-defensively-macho "homophobic" undercurrent, but I just don't get from Eminem that he has any particular bone to pick, so to speak.

[LeeCalif]

03:26 PM on 10/13/2010

Call the WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAmbulance for this crybaby !

[Texan21302]

01:41 PM on 10/13/2010

He's very talented. My daughter turned me onto him when he first came out. I think that he has grown up alot.

[MsNatTurner]

12:54 PM on 10/13/2010

what a tired, tired thing to say...

[GatorAtLarge]

09:44 AM on 10/13/2010

On the flip side, if he were black he wouldnt sell half as many records as he has.

[EndRacismNow]

06:38 PM on 10/13/2010

As we all know, there are no successful black rap artists.

[jonesll]

09:21 AM on 10/13/2010

No big deal to me and who really cares? I don’t think anyone is looking through the prism of Rappers in this country for guidance in civility and morality.

[Emaze]

10:41 AM on 10/13/2010

Rappers highlight the cracks and blemishes in your prism... highlighting the denial often inherent in your civility and the absence or flaws in your morality.

[KikoJones]

01:01 AM on 10/14/2010

When not glorifying materialism, espousing homophobia or celebrating misogyny, yeah, sure.

[theheatofthemoment]

09:13 AM on 10/13/2010

What's all this "he's acting black" nonsense? Em isn't acting at all. That's just the way he is. My best boy is a white dude from the hood and he sounds the same way. He's also is accused of trying to sound like something he's not

[David Keith]

08:02 AM on 10/13/2010

Blaming something else (If I was black...) for your own (homophobic) failings is very childish.

[TheEducator49]

08:30 AM on 10/13/2010

1. That's not what he was doing. He was pointing out the double-standard when it comes to him vs. other rappers.

2. He's not homophobic.

[Blaq Ninja]

10:04 AM on 10/13/2010

Your nuts!!! Eminem has bigoted and racist tendacies. Two guys I know work at his label imprint Shadyville records and he uses the N-word and disrespects black woman regularly. You dont know what your talking about. And yes he is homophobic. Your just a fan (fanatic). If he gave you the finger your fanatic brain would twist the pic around and turn it into a thumbs up. You know Em made a song about people like you? It's called Stan...smh

[David Keith]

10:59 AM on 10/13/2010

You are so wrong.

There is only a double standard in his own head. In the real world, it doesn't exist. Homophobic behavior defines itself.

He acts like a homophobe. He talks like a homophobe. He is homophobe.

[Slicknickshady]

01:33 AM on 10/13/2010

Elton John is best friends with Eminem. This is so old news. Anderson Cooper being gay is the only reason he asked the question. It's been asked hundreds of times to him and he gives the same answer. Deal with it. Eminem is the greatest rapper of all time. 11 Grammys. 1 Academy Award. 80 Million Albums sold worldwide.

[SaintZak]

08:59 AM on 10/13/2010

I think at this point Elton John will do just about anything to keep himself in the public's attention.

[Slicknickshady]

03:42 AM on 10/14/2010

Elton John calls him all the time. He dedicated "Rocket Man" To Eminem at one of his concerts a few years ago at Joe Louis Arena.

[David Keith]

11:02 AM on 10/13/2010

A mutual publicity stunt does not best friends make.

[TheEducator49]

08:28 PM on 10/13/2010

Yeah, it's a publicity stunt that Elton John was privately one of the key figures in helping Eminem get over his pill addiction.

[Slicknickshady]

03:43 AM on 10/14/2010

Elton John calls him all the time. He dedicated "Rocket Man" To Eminem at one of his concerts a few years ago at Joe Louis Arena.

[nini516]

06:29 PM on 10/12/2010

Em, you're not all that, okay!!! Just another rapper with a troubled life that got lucky with a few good albums (to some people), and a movie. There's million stories just like yours, and 50's. But in your reach for fame stardom, and gettin' paid you hurt many other people along the way. Hope you're dealing with that!!!