Eminem had trouble getting a visa to perform 2 shows in Australia in 2001. The rapper was to perform with his D12 posse in Sydney and Melbourne on July 26 and 27 that year. The Australian Prime Minister John Howard tried to keep him out, calling his songs "sickening and offensive."
But eventually Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock granted him a visa after Eminem acknowledged the requirements, and also acknowledged that breaching them could result a visa cancellation. Eminem was warned the visa "carried with it a responsibility with respect to our multicultural society and values and the need to avoid vilifying or inciting discord. . . To the point where a potentially dangerous disturbance resulted."
There were concerned groups that opposed to Eminem's Australian tour because according to them Eminem sang violent, foul-mouthed and racist lyrics that are often demeaning to women and gays.
The only reason why Eminem gets these bad ratings and critics is because he exposes the worst of society. This multi-awarded rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor, grow and raised in a not so ideal home. His parents were in a band and separated when their relationship went sour. When Eminem was in his teens, he wrote letters to his father and came back as "return to sender." The rapper was a bit loner and often bullied. He was beaten significantly by De'Angelo Bailey (former schoolmate), split his lip open and knocked the wind out of him. He suffered further beatings from the same bully, including a bathroom incident, where EM sustained injuries to his head, face, back and legs. In his worst run-in with the bully, Bailey hit Em in the face with a snowball containing a heavy object or a piece of ice, and then proceeded to beat him up, which resulted in a concussion and temporary loss of vision in one eye for Em.
Eminem later referenced his bully in his 1999 song "Brain Damage" which included the following lyrics about Bailey: "He banged my head against the urinal till he broke my nose/ Soaked my clothes in blood, grabbed me and choked my throat."
Bailey sued Eminem in 2001 for violation of privacy, but the suit was rightfully tossed out. Recently, Eminem has been speaking out against bullying, in an effort to combat the trend of suicides resulting from anti-gay bullying in schools, despite the fact that Em himself has been accused of fueling anti-gay bullying through his song lyrics.
Eminem's controversies over lyrics have been perceived as being homophobic and was the reason why Australian Prime Minister John Howard attempted to ban his entry to Australia. Eminem denies that he is homophobic and says that during his upbringing such obscene words as a faggot and queer were commonly spoken as being derogatory in general and not implicitly singled towards homosexuals.
When asked in an interview with the New York Times about same-sex marriage been legalized in his home state of Michigan, Eminem responded, "I think if two people love each other, then what the hell? I think that everyone should have the chance to be equally miserable, if they want". He said that his "overall look on things is a lot more mature than it used to be."
EMINEM will return to Australia for an East Coast stadium tour in February 2014. In a bill sure to buck the trend of failing hip hop tours in Australia, Eminem will be joined by Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole and Melbourne rapper 360 in a bill, titled Rapture.
Eminem's Australian shows will be at Melbourne's Etihad Stadium on February 19, Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on February 20 and Sydney's ANZ Stadium on February 22.
Eminem will release The Marshall Mathers LP2 on November 5. Tickets for the tour will go on sale October 31.
