One is a glittery, hit-making “Rocket Man” and the other is an angsty hometown “Rap God.” All differences aside, Elton John and Eminem are just like a couple of cock rings in a pod, er, satin box.
“Ah, no. Eminem bought me and David matching cock rings when we got married. That was his gift. They sit there, like the crown jewels, in this beautiful box on satin cushions. They’re wonderful to look at. I don’t know if any guests we’ve had have used them. God, I hope not. They’re kind of sacrosanct. The fact they came from Eminem makes it even better. It’s very him, as is this question. I call him up every couple of months, and every time he picks up the phone he says the same thing: “Hello, you old cunt, how are you?” Justin Timberlake says the same thing, actually.”
John married longtime partner David Furnish once same-sex marriage was legalized in Britain in 2014 — 13 years after John and Em gave the world an unforgettable performance.
In 2001, during the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards, Eminem performed his hit “Stan” alongside John amid public backlash and protests, due in part to Em's violent and homophobic lyrics and his numerous nominations for his 2000 release, The Marshall Mathers LP, which took home the award for Best Rap Album.
“If I thought for one minute that he was [hateful], I wouldn't do it," John said in a 2001 interview with The Los Angeles Times, later telling Zane Lowe of Beats 1: "[Eminem is] just writing about the way things are — not how he thinks, but the way things are. I'll fight for anyone that is misunderstood and misrepresented by the idiots out there.”
Last week, John announced a new slew of dates, including back-to-back dates at Little Caesars Arena, as part of his massive “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour.
Tickets for Elton John's Detroit concerts go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. and can be purchased via 313presents.com.
We welcome readers to submit letters regarding articles and content in Detroit Metro Times. Letters should be a minimum of 150 words, refer to content that has appeared on Detroit Metro Times, and must include the writer's full name, address, and phone number for verification purposes. No attachments will be considered. Writers of letters selected for publication will be notified via email. Letters may be edited and shortened for space.
Email us at letters@metrotimes.com.
Detroit Metro Times works for you, and your support is essential.
Our small but mighty local team works tirelessly to bring you high-quality, uncensored news and cultural coverage of Detroit and beyond.
Unlike many newspapers, ours is free – and we'd like to keep it that way, because we believe, now more than ever, everyone deserves access to accurate, independent coverage of their community.
Whether it's a one-time acknowledgement of this article or an ongoing pledge, your support helps keep Detroit's true free press free.