by Eminem’s Daughter Hailie Jade Shares Deeply Emotional Response to His Song on Addiction
Hailie Jade Mathers, daughter of the legendary rapper Eminem, has openly shared her profound emotional reaction to her father’s latest song, “Somebody Save Me.” The 28-year-old revealed on her podcast, “Just a Little Shady,” that the track, which delves into Eminem’s struggles with addiction, brought her to tears, stating she “audibly sobbed” upon hearing it. This candid confession highlights the lasting impact of his past battles on his family, despite his remarkable journey to sobriety.
In the Friday episode of her podcast, Hailie explained that while she managed to watch the music video for “Somebody Save Me” once, its intense emotional content made it difficult to revisit. The video portrays a harrowing alternate reality where Eminem never overcame his drug dependency, illustrating the devastating effects his addiction had, and would have continued to have, on his loved ones. A particularly poignant scene features Eminem watching old childhood footage of Hailie and her siblings, as he raps, “Sorry that I chose drugs and put ’em above you / Sorry that I didn’t love you enough to give ’em up.” Hailie admitted, “I watched it in its entirety and I don’t think I can do it again. I definitely cry every time I hear it at all.”
A Father’s Apology and a Daughter’s Reflection
“Somebody Save Me,” featuring Jelly Roll, serves as a powerful apology from Eminem to his children for the parts of their childhoods he missed due to his addiction. It also reflects on the countless other moments he would have forfeited had his addiction claimed his life. Eminem, now 51, has been remarkably transparent about his past struggles, which included a near-fatal overdose at the end of 2007. At the nadir of his addiction, he was reportedly consuming up to 20 pills daily, including sleeping pills and Vicodin.
Hailie credited her parents, Eminem and Kim Scott, for their efforts in shielding her from the full chaos of her father’s addiction during her formative years. However, looking back with a mature perspective, she now fully grasps the severity of the situation. “I think that’s why I get emotional so much, like just thinking that [he] could have [died],” she tearfully shared. “Obviously that’s the point of the song, but I will say … if you’ve ever lost an addict or a loved one, I feel for you.”
Eminem’s decision to get clean for good came shortly after his overdose, when Hailie was just 12 years old. This past April, he celebrated a significant milestone, posting a photo on Instagram commemorating 16 years of sobriety. His continued openness about his recovery journey, both through his music and personal reflections, not only offers a powerful message of hope but also allows his daughter to process and share her own complex emotions surrounding his past. The song and Hailie’s reaction underscore the profound and lasting impact of addiction, even as recovery brings healing and renewed family bonds.
