The ongoing ‘beef’ between Eminem and Superman actor Christopher Reeve has continued to escalate over the years.
Christopher Reeve, renowned for his iconic portrayal of Superman, tragically became paralyzed later in life and passed away in 2004. Despite his passing, his name has been a recurring reference in Eminem’s music, with the rapper mentioning him 44 times across various tracks.
Typically, when a rapper alludes to a celebrity in their music, it suggests a falling out or some underlying scandal, similar to Eminem’s recent conflict with Machine Gun Kelly.
However, in the case of Christopher Reeve, Eminem has clarified that his references are not born out of animosity but are instead tied to a nostalgic memory from his childhood.
In his song ‘Rain Man,’ Eminem raps: “And let’s clear this up too; I ain’t got no beef with him either.
“He used to be like a hero to me, I even believe I had one of those 25-cent stickers on my refrigerator, right next to Darth Vader.”
While many of Eminem’s mentions of Reeve are either laudatory or reflective of his admiration for the actor, some lyrics have drawn criticism for being perceived as harsh towards Reeve.
For instance, in his 2009 track ‘Medicine Ball,’ Eminem raps: “Put Christopher Reeve on a unicycle with a kickstand, kick it up and push him and lead him right into quicksand.
“Here, you need a hand, big man?”
This song also features Eminem mimicking Reeve’s voice, followed by the line: “Always hated you, and I still do.”
Ultimately, Eminem’s frequent use of Reeve’s name could be attributed to its phonetic ease, making it a convenient rhyme for his lyrics.
Regardless of the reason, fans have been intrigued by the so-called ‘Reeve drama,’ often speculating about Eminem’s motivations for continually mentioning the actor.
One Reddit user commented: “I think he just likes how the name sounds,” while another humorously suggested: “The beef went so far Christopher Reeves died on purpose, just so Eminem couldn’t release a diss track against him.”
In response, someone quipped: “And the madman has done it anyways, going to be interesting to see how Reeves responds from beyond the grave.”
Another user expressed fatigue over the recurring mention: “I roll my eyes every time I hear Eminem bring up Christopher Reeves…. Ugh.”