Sir Elton John received this adult toy gift after he supported Eminem when he was accused of being a homophobe. Read on.
Eminem is a well-known personality in the music world who is almost always shrouded with controversy. Time and again, the Slim Shady rapper was accused of being a homophobe, but Sir Elton Johns has a different opinion. The Rolling Stones member came out as gay in 1992 and had proof to support his claim that the rapper was accused wrongly. Keep scrolling for more.
The Slim Shady rapper’s original name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III. Marshall and John’s friendship began in 2001 when they performed at the 2001 Grammys. Back then, the rapper was condemned for his alleged homophobic lyrics, with The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) striking against him outside The Staples Centre. The Grammys were taking place there.
In one of his appearances on The Graham Norton Show, Sir Elton John once spoke about his friendship with Eminem and how he supported him when people accused the rapper of being a homophobe. John said, “He was accused of being homophobic by so many people because of his lyrics, which I thought was nonsense. I came out and supported the fact that he isn’t [homophobic], and I appeared on the Grammys with him, doing ‘Stan’”.
Sir Elton John added, “We became friends. We’ve been amazing friends ever since. He’s an amazing guy. I interviewed him last week for a magazine.” The veteran musician then revealed Eminem gifted him an expensive adult toy. Elton recalled, “I just adore him… When David [Furnish] and I did our civil partnership, I got this package from Eminem. It shows you how homophobic he isn’t! It had two diamond-encrusted c*ck rings on velvet cushions. I have to say, they have remained unused!”
Check out Sir Elton John sharing the incident here:
Eminem has long been a controversial figure in hip-hop, with his lyrics often sparking debates about language, intent, and the line between artistic expression and offense. The use of homophobic slurs in his songs has been a recurring topic of criticism, with many calling him out for perpetuating harmful language.
In his interview with Anderson Cooper, Eminem addressed the backlash, explaining that these words were commonplace in the rap battle culture he grew up in. His response—acknowledging the frequent use of such slurs while insisting he harbors no actual animosity—was met with mixed reactions. Some fans saw it as a reasonable explanation, arguing that his lyrics reflect the raw, uncensored nature of rap. Others felt that, regardless of intent, such language reinforces harmful stereotypes and contributes to a culture of discrimination.
Over the years, Eminem has taken steps to distance himself from accusations of homophobia. His 2001 performance with Elton John at the Grammys was widely seen as an effort to mend fences, and he has since expressed support for the LGBTQ+ community. However, his lyrics continue to be scrutinized, with newer songs still occasionally sparking debate.
This moment remains a significant chapter in Eminem’s career, reflecting the broader conversation about the evolution of language in music and whether past norms should be excused in the name of artistic freedom.