Eminem’s Brother Nathan Mathers Says He Feels ‘Hatred and Mixed Emotions’ Following Death of Mom Debbie Nelson

Mar. 15, 2025

Eminem’s half-brotherNathan “Nate” Mathersshared a five-word post on Instagram the day after the death of their mother.

On Tuesday, Dec. 3, Nathan, 38, shared aposton his Instagram Stories following the death of his momDebbie Nelsonon Dec. 2 that simply read, “Hatred and mixed emotions today."

Nelson died at age 69 from complications related to lung cancer in St. Joseph, Mo., on Monday, Dec. 2, a rep for Eminem, 52,confirmed to PEOPLE.TMZwas first to report the news of Nelson’s death.

Nathan Mathers' Instagram Stories post.Nate Mathers/Instagram

Nate Mathers/Instagram

Nelson welcomed her youngest son, music producer Nathan, with her boyfriend Fred Samra when Eminem (real name Marshall Mathers III) was 13 years old.

Debbie Nelson; Nathan ‘Nate’ Mathers.Mark Weiss/Getty; Nate Mathers/Instagram

Mark Weiss/Getty; Nate Mathers/Instagram

Eminem was declared his brother Nathan’s legal guardian when Nathan was 16 after he was in foster care for nearly 10 years.

Eminem recalled toRolling Stonein 2004, “I cried just going to see him at the foster home. The day he was taken away, I was the only one allowed to see him. They had come and got him out of school. He didn’t know what the f— was going on. The same thing that had happened in my life was happening in his.”

Debbie Nelson, who died on Dec. 2, pictured in 2005.Mark Weiss/Getty

Mark Weiss/Getty

“When he was taken away I always said if I ever get in a position to take him, I would take him. I tried to apply for full custody when I was 20, but I didn’t have the means,” he said.

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Eminem and his brother Nathan.Barry King/WireImage

Barry King/WireImage

The musician’s fight for custody of his brother came amid a tumultuous relationship with mom Nelson, having famously dissed her in some of his earlier songs, including the 2002 track “Cleanin' Out My Closet.” which led to Nelson suing her son for $11 million for defamation,PEOPLE previously reported.

Speaking on Eminem’s daughterHailie Jade’s podcastJust a Little Shadyin February 2023, Nathan said, “He was the best role model I could have had to help me be the dad that I am today.”

source: people.com