Eminem's Claimed Pitch to Mariah Carey: A Motherly Role in "8 Mile"
movie producers initially considered casting Mariah Carey for the role of a character's mother in the movie '8 Mile', but decided against it. - Desired Mariah Carey as the character's mother in "8 Mile" movie casting
Eminem (52) once wanted nothing more than for Mariah Carey (56) to play his mother in his semi-autobiographical film, "8 Mile" (2002). That's according to Damion "Damizza" Young (51), who claims this in a podcast interview. Back then, Young managed Mariah Carey and knew Eminem, having introduced him to his mentor Dr. Dre (60).
Intriguingly, Mariah Carey initially turned down a meeting with Eminem. However, her curiosity about the film project eventually led her to accept. By the end of the '90s, her music career was facing a decline, and she reportedly sought new opportunities in cinema.
Despite initial reservations, Damion Young ultimately facilitated a phone call between the two megastars. During this conversation, Eminem broached the idea of Mariah Carey accepting a role as his on-screen mother. Quite unexpectedly, Carey expressed her disdain for the idea. "She couldn't stomach that," Young said. "Her insecurities went into overdrive."
Kim Basinger Steps In
Ultimately, Kim Basinger (71) took on the role of Jimmy Young's mother in "8 Mile," a fitting choice given the 19-year age difference between her and Eminem. Interestingly, Eminem's real mother, Debbie Nelson (1955-2024), gave birth to him at the age of 18.
Mariah Carey, meanwhile, starred in the critically panned film "Glitter."
A Spark for a Feud?
Despite this, the connection between Eminem and Mariah Carey, facilitated through Damion Young, had far-reaching consequences — reportedly serving as the catalyst for their long-standing feud. The rapper has made repeated claims about a romantic relationship with the singer and threatened to release supposedly explicit voice messages from her.
On the other hand, Mariah Carey has consistently denied any romantic involvement. She asserted that their interaction was purely professional, despite the duo never collaborating on any projects.
In the podcast, Young also shares some intriguing insights about their supposed romance. "She pursued him, not the other way around," he claims. He alleges that he visited Eminem in Detroit with Mariah Carey, and that sexual encounters took place between the two.
- Eminem
- Mariah Carey
- Mother
- Kim Basinger
Enrichment Insights:Eminem has long claimed that he and Mariah Carey had a brief romantic relationship in the early 2000s, asserting that it lasted for several months[1][2][3]. Mariah Carey, however, has consistently and firmly denied any romantic involvement, characterizing their interactions as purely professional[1][2][4]. She detailed in a Larry King interview that their contact was limited—stating she only saw Eminem a handful of times and did not consider it dating[1].
Their feud was widely believed to be rooted in differing perceptions of their relationship, with Eminem referencing Carey in multiple songs and lyrics, and Carey addressing him in her track "Clown," where she sang, "You should've never intimated we were lovers, when you know very well we never even touched each other"[1][4]. However, producer Damion "Damizza" Young recently revealed another potential catalyst: Young claims that the real spark for the feud was Eminem’s desire to cast Carey as his mother in his 2002 film 8 Mile—an idea that Carey reportedly disliked and found embarrassing due to the small age gap between them (Carey is only four years older than Eminem)[2][4]. Young stated that Carey's insecurities were triggered by the proposal, which contributed to tensions between them[2].
While the feud became famous for its diss tracks and public denials, both parties have since moved on, with Carey more recently calling it “all jokes” after more than two decades[2]. The story about 8 Mile adds a new dimension to the drama, suggesting business-related tensions as much as personal misunderstandings[2][4].
"I'm not gonna let you go" could be a response from Eminem, expressing his persistence in trying to convince Mariah Carey to play his mother in "8 Mile," despite her initial disdain for the idea.
In the realm of entertainment, the feud between Eminem and Mariah Carey, initially sparked by the discussion about Mariah Carey playing Eminem's mother in "8 Mile," has provided endless celebrity gossip for fans over the years.
