Music / Notable People

Get the details behind rapper Eminem's feud with pop star Christina Aguilera, and if the two were able to bury the hatchet.

Eminem is no stranger to feuding with other celebrities. Throughout his career, Marshall Mathers has called out everyone from fellow rappers to actors and plenty of pop stars.

Christina Aguilera was one of the celebs Em name-checked in his song “The Real Slim Shady,” and that ignited their famous feud. Many fans thought things ended after the two stood on the same stage together and reportedly hugged it out behind the scenes. But their truce was short-lived.

Here’s how Aguilera became one of Eminem’s targets and where things between them stand all these years later.

What Eminem said about Aguilera in one of his biggest hits

This feud started in 2000 when the “Genie in a Bottle” hitmaker shared information during her MTV special What A Girl Wants about Eminem secretly marrying his longtime on-again, off-again partner Kim Scott. Aguilera also mentioned his lyrics about violence referencing Kim and how no one should tolerate physical abuse in relationships.

The hip-hop artist wasn’t happy at all with the pop star airing out his personal business. So he went after Aguilera in “The Real Slim Shady” with the lyrics: “Christina Aguilera better switch me chairs. So I can sit next to Carson Daly and Fred Durst. And hear ’em argue over who she gave h*** to first. Little b**** put me on blast on MTV ‘Yeah, he’s cute, but I think he’s married to Kim, hee-hee.’ I should download her audio on MP3 and show the whole world how you gave Eminem VD!”

But that’s not the only time the singer felt the 8 Mile actor’s wrath. Em brought her up in the “Off the Wall” track featuring Redman when he rapped: “Causing terror to Christina Aguilera. When I grab her by the hair and drag her across the Sahara.”

How Aguilera responded to the disses

Aguilera responded with her female empowerment song “Can’t Hold Us Down” off her 2002 Stripped album, singing: “So what am I not supposed to have an opinion. Should I keep quiet just because I’m a woman? Call me a b**** cause I speak what’s on my mind. Guess it’s easier for you to swallow if I sat and smiled.”

But it was during the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards when Xtina and her nemesis came face to face as she was
tasked with presenting Eminem the award for “Best Male Video.”

No one knew exactly what was going to happen as the rapper walked up to the stage to get his award. With all eyes on them, Em simply took the hardware from Aguilera and said “thank you,” before delivering his acceptance speech.

Eminem and Christina Aguilera onstage during the VMAs | KMazur/WireImage

It was reported that they tried to bury the hatchet and hugged it out backstage. But their beef didn’t end then.

No love lost between them?

For years, many thought their feud was done and over with. But to everyone’s surprise, in a 2018 freestyle titled “Kick Off,” Eminem mentioned Aguilera again, with the lines: “F*ck Christina with a plastic spoon. While I bump some GFunk and blast some Snoop. ‘Cause her double G-cups are massive, huge!”

The following year, Aguilera was a guest on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen and was asked about
Eminem calling her out again after so long.

“That’s really in the past and, you know, it was thirsty then, it’s thirsty now … It’s not nice to go after anybody, especially a female in this business,” the “Dirrty” artist said. “And now, what we’re looking at and seeing come to the forefront, it’s just, get a new gig. Have something else to talk about.”

While there was no love lost between the two then, neither have commented on their beef since indicating that they have both moved on.