Why Did Eminem and Christina Aguilera Have Beef? A Look at Their Decades-Long Feud

Eminem and Christina Aguilera were two of the biggest pop culture icons of the late 1990s and early 2000s. However, behind the scenes, the rapper and pop star were embroiled in a bitter feud that spanned nearly two decades. So why exactly did Eminem and Christina Aguilera have beef with each other?

The Origins of the Feud

In 1999, a 19-year old Christina Aguilera discussed Eminem’s tumultuous marriage to Kim Scott during an MTV special called “What a Girl Wants.” She commented that she had heard Eminem was married to “the girl that he talks about killing on his record.” This was a reference to Eminem’s controversial song “’97 Bonnie & Clyde” in which he raps about taking Kim on a drive and killing her.

Christina went on to say the song was “kind of disturbing” and warn viewers about tolerating violence in relationships

When Eminem caught wind of Christina’s remarks, he was furious In his song “The Real Slim Shady” released in 2000, Eminem mocked Christina’s comments and accused her of spreading rumors that she gave him an STD

The Feud Escalates

In 2002, Eminem continued to attack Christina in his song “Off the Wall” with Redman, threatening to “drag her across the Sahara”

Christina appeared to respond in her hit song “Can’t Hold Us Down,” singing about refusing to be silenced “just because I’m a woman.”

Although the two briefly seemed to make peace when Christina awkwardly presented Eminem with an award at the 2002 VMAs, Eminem reignited their feud in 2018. In his song “Kick Off,” he made crude remarks about wanting to “f*** Christina with a plastic spoon.”

When asked about it in 2019, a confused Christina called Eminem’s obsession with her “thirsty.”

Why Eminem Was So Angry

So why was Eminem so angry about Christina’s relatively tame comments about his marriage and song lyrics?

It seems he may have initially had a crush on her. In 1999, he talked about putting her poster up in his room. When Christina complimented him in interviews, he appeared mutually interested, saying she was “cute.”

So when she publicly critiqued his controversial lyrics, he likely felt betrayed and lashed out in response. The fact that his insults against her became increasingly vulgar and violent over the years shows how much her comments appeared to get under his skin.

Lasting Bad Blood

Though their feud simmered down in the mid-2000s, Eminem just couldn’t seem to let it go. His continued jabs against Christina decades later, even after she called him “thirsty” for it, reveals lingering bad blood.

Ultimately, their rivalry stemmed from a misunderstanding and bruised ego on Eminem’s part. Christina’s perspective on his lyrics was valid, especially considering her young female fanbase at the time.

But Eminem seemed unable to take criticism and turned on her viciously when she dared to call him out. The feud highlights Eminem’s well-documented misogyny and history of petty celebrity feuds fueled by ego. Over 20 years later, it seems any chance of reconciliation between the two music icons has long passed.