Every time there’s a rare public sighting of Marshall "Eminem" Mathers, his fans are absolutely shocked by his appearance. He has matured a lot since the release of his 1999 album, The Slim Shady LP, but his drastic physical changes have made him nearly unrecognizable to his fans, prompting some to speculate about his overall well-being. What’s really going on?
From substance abuse to grueling workouts, fatherhood to trouble in the hood, and beards to Botox — we’ve done some digging, and we’re here to spit the truth about why the "Lose Yourself" rapper looks a lot different these days.
Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Marshall Bruce Mathers III |
| Stage Name | Eminem |
| Date of Birth | October 17, 1972 |
| Birthplace | St. Joseph, Missouri, USA |
| Genres | Hip Hop, Rap |
| Years Active | 1996 - Present |
| Notable Albums | The Slim Shady LP, The Marshall Mathers LP, The Eminem Show |
Changes in Appearance
One of the main reasons Eminem looks like a completely different person is because his fans aren’t used to seeing him with facial hair. Since the start of his decades-long career, the "Love the Way You Lie" rapper has rocked a clean-shaven face. However, Eminem joined #BeardGang and debuted his new, scruffy look on his Instagram account in 2017. In the photo, the 8 Mile star posed alongside rap pioneer Dr. Dre and breakout artist Kendrick Lamar. The caption read, "Just a couple of guys from Compton and one from Detroit. With a beard."
Soon enough, his social media comments section was flooded with fans who either detested his new rough and rugged look or adored it. Despite their opinions, it appears that the beard may be here to stay, and we must admit, we sort of dig it.
Speculations on Surgery
Most celebs are plagued by plastic surgery rumors from time to time, and in an industry where perfection is the status quo, we’re not surprised many of them feel pressured to go under the knife. Some suspect Eminem has also resorted to various enhancements in an attempt to reclaim his youthful appearance.
His nose and lips appear to be the same, but his skin looks smooth, leading some to believe he underwent Botox injections to help diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The emcee celebrated his 45th birthday in 2017, so he’s certainly entitled to some crow's feet and frown lines. Various websites, which have picked apart every inch of his face, have claimed Eminem's waxy complexion is due to said injections.
Impact of Drug Use
Eminem's lyrics are laced with references to drug use, and even his album names pay homage to his struggle with addiction. From 2009's Relapse to 2010's Recovery, music fans have stuck by him through every step of his tumultuous journey. However, many listeners weren’t aware of the extent of his drug battle until he opened up while filming the 2012 documentary, How to Make Money Selling Drugs.
Before he knew it, his apparent addiction to prescription medication — Vicodin, Valium, Ambien, and methadone — was so out of control, it led to an overdose. "Had I got to the hospital about two hours later, I would have died," he says. "My organs were shutting down. My liver, kidneys, everything." Drug use can drastically change one's appearance, and although Eminem doesn’t look as harrowing as others who’ve suffered from drug addiction, his previous demons may have robbed him of his once-boyish appearance.
Health and Fitness Transformation
In the 2010s, Eminem did a 180 with his physical appearance — and people want answers. After turning heads at The Wall Street Journal's Innovator of the Year Awards in 2014, an anonymous source claimed Eminem's newfound positive lifestyle had contributed to his physical changes. "He jogs and eats well," the insider said. "He's healthy and happy!"
If this is what a healthy and happy Eminem looks like, we’ll take it! His transformation reflects a commitment to health, which is certainly a positive message for fans.
Public Perception and Rumors
Conspiracy theorists believe they’ve figured out why Eminem looks so different. It’s just too bad their theory is nothing more than a wacky and absurd rumor that points to the new Eminem being a clone of his former self. Some uncredited blogs claim the real Slim Shady died in a fatal car accident in 2007. Let’s just ignore the fact that news publications have never reported that the rapper was ever involved in such a crash.
Obviously, this all sounds like complete hogwash, but we thought we’d throw it into the mix for good measure. It’s imperative to focus on the facts rather than unfounded rumors, as they can distract from the real issues at hand.
Personal Struggles and Triumphs
Eminem's love life has been a hot mess since his teenage years, after he fell in and out of love with ex-wife Kim Scott. The former lovers had a child, Hailie, in 1995, and in 1999, they got married. They divorced in 2001, only to remarry again in 2006, and divorce again later that year.
He has infamously rapped about his tumultuous relationship with Scott, most notably in the song "Kim," in which he viciously describes killing her. But his rocky romance wasn’t the only form of stress in his life. Eminem took the death of his close friend and D12 group member, Deshaun "Proof" Holton, hard, and it spiraled him into a darker place.
New Beginnings
After battling addiction and enduring a failed rehab attempt, the rapper revealed in 2010 that he was finally headed down the path to sobriety. "When I first got sober I got really happy because I was not a prisoner of addiction anymore," he told Reuters.
Being a father also motivated him to clean up his act. Aside from Hailie, the rapper has also raised Whitney, a daughter Kim conceived during a previous relationship, and Scott’s niece, Alaina, who the former couple adopted. "I’m looking at my kids and realizing I need to be here for this," he says.
So, my friends, we’re now looking at a healthy, happy, and sober Eminem. His physical changes are starting to make a lot more sense now, aren’t they?
