Savage remark that ignited Eminem, Mariah Carey feud finally revealed

Eminem and Mariah Carey were embroiled in one of showbiz’s most infamous spats – and the remark that sparked it has finally been revealed.

Eminem and Mariah Carey’s famous feud began two decades ago — and music producer Damion “Damizza” Young may have finally revealed the diss that started it all.

The 50-year-old, who began working with Carey in 1988, revealed on the TFU Podcast last week that he is responsible for introducing the singer, 56, to the rapper, 52.

According to Young, Eminem was interested in casting Carey in 8 Mile, reports Page Six.

However, he told Carey, who is only four years his senior, during a three-way phone call, “I want you to play my mother.”

Young recalled, “She did not like that s**t at all. Her insecurities kicked in big time.”

Kim Basinger, who is 19 years older than the rapper, ultimately ended up playing Stephanie Smith, Eminem’s character B-Rabbit’s mum, in the 2002 movie.

Eminem performing in 2002.

It’s alleged he asked Carey – also seen here in 2002 – to play his mother on-screen.

Young told listeners that he had warned Eminem against making the offer in the first place.

“Don’t do this. I know where you’re going with this,” he remembered saying. “I’m managing this girl, and it’s gonna cause me a problem.”

Young, who knew Carey wanted to branch out into movies, had already cautioned her against doing Glitter and wasn’t a fan of the 8 Mile opportunity — but decided to let Eminem tell her about it anyway.

“If I don’t say something and then it comes another route in the business or something, then I’m the bad guy,” he explained.

Reps for Eminem and Carey did not immediately respond to Page Six’s requests for comment.

Eminem has long claimed that the Grammy winners’ beef originated from a failed romantic relationship — which Carey has continuously denied.

The rapper’s mum in the film was played by Kim Basinger. Picture: AP Photo/Paul Sancya

There’d been rumours their feud began after a failed romance. Picture: Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET

Young claimed in last week’s podcast episode that Carey “was chasing” Eminem and took a trip to Detroit. Young left while the artists were allegedly “f**king” in Eminem’s room.

The radio executive went on to claim that while Carey was “on” Eminem at the time, she was later “not doing well” after Eminem “had done this and that.”

Eminem blasted Carey in multiple diss tracks beginning in 2002, from Superman to When the Music Stops in 2002.

Carey claimed to Larry King that same year that she and Eminem only “hung out … a total of four times,” which she did not “consider dating somebody” — and he subsequently referenced her in another song “Jimmy Crack Corn.”

This led Carey to sing about Eminem — and portray him in the music video — in Obsessed in 2009.

The feud died down for years, with Eminem even insisting to Vibe he was “done” in a 2010 interview.

However, he called Carey a “nut job” in his verse on Fat Joe’s Lord Above nine years later.

In 2020, Carey published her memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey, and did not once mention Eminem in the book.

This article originally appeared in Page Six and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Savage remark that ignited Eminem, Mariah Carey feud finally revealed