On June 4, 2025, in a rare and candid interview on his daughter Hailie Jade’s podcast Just a Little Shady, Eminem—whose real name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III—opened up about his personal life in a way that has left fans both heartbroken and reflective. The 52-year-old rap icon, known for his lyrical genius and tumultuous journey in the spotlight, revealed the reason he has remained single for nearly two decades since his final divorce from ex-wife Kim Scott in 2006: “I don’t believe in love anymore.” The shocking admission, delivered with the raw honesty that has defined his music for over 30 years, offers a glimpse into the emotional scars left by his past and the profound impact of his failed marriage on his outlook on romance.

Eminem’s relationship with Kim Scott has been one of the most publicized and tumultuous in music history, a love story that began in their teenage years and unraveled under the weight of fame, addiction, and mutual pain. The two first met in 1988 at a house party in Detroit, when Eminem was 15 and Kim was 13. Kim, who had run away from home with her twin sister Dawn to escape an unstable environment, found refuge with Eminem and his mother, Debbie Nelson. “Marshall arrived home from school with a tall, sulky blonde girl,” Debbie wrote in her 2008 memoir My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem. “He introduced her as Kim Scott and said she needed a place to stay. I was happy to help out.” The pair began dating in 1989, and their on-again, off-again relationship would span nearly two decades, marked by intense highs and devastating lows.

The couple welcomed their daughter, Hailie Jade, on Christmas Day 1995, a moment Eminem has often described as a turning point in his life. “Everything that I am doing right now is for Hailie,” he told Q magazine in 2001, reflecting on how fatherhood gave him purpose during a time when he was struggling to make ends meet, working 60-hour weeks at Gilbert’s Lodge for minimum wage. They married in 1999, just as Eminem’s career skyrocketed with the release of The Slim Shady LP, but the pressures of fame quickly took a toll. Kim later spoke about the strain, saying in a 2007 interview with 20/20, “Money is great, but it doesn’t make your husband stay at home with you. Him being on the road and on tour… that was like the big one. Constant infidelities, all the time.” Their marriage crumbled, leading to a bitter divorce in 2001, followed by a brief reconciliation and second marriage in 2006, which ended in divorce just three months later.

Eminem’s music during this period became a raw outlet for his emotions, with songs like “Kim” (2000) and “’97 Bonnie & Clyde” (1997) depicting violent fantasies about his ex-wife, reflecting the depth of his anger and pain. Kim later revealed the toll these songs took on her mental health, admitting in a 2016 interview on Mojo in the Morning that Eminem’s performance of “Kim” at a concert—where he acted out violent lyrics using a blow-up doll representing her—drove her to attempt self-harm. “I was embarrassed. I was humiliated. I cried,” she said in a 2007 interview with People. The toxic dynamic between the two, compounded by Kim’s struggles with addiction and depression, left lasting scars on both, but they eventually found a way to co-parent, maintaining a friendship for the sake of their children.

In the June 2025 podcast episode, Eminem sat down with Hailie to discuss his new role as a grandfather to her son, Elliot Marshall McClintock, born in March 2025. But the conversation took a deeper turn when Hailie, now 29 and a social media influencer with over 3.2 million Instagram followers, gently asked her father about his love life. “Dad, you’ve been single for so long—since I was a kid, really. Why haven’t you dated anyone seriously since Mom?” she asked, her voice filled with curiosity and concern. Eminem paused, his piercing blue eyes reflecting a mix of vulnerability and resolve, before delivering his bombshell revelation: “I don’t believe in love anymore, Hailie. I just don’t.”

Expanding on his statement, Eminem explained that his experiences with Kim shattered his faith in romantic love. “Kim and I… we were everything to each other when we were kids. We didn’t have nothing, but we had each other,” he said, his voice heavy with nostalgia. “But when fame hit, it changed everything. It brought out the worst in both of us. I hurt her, she hurt me—we couldn’t stop hurting each other. After the second divorce, I just… I couldn’t do it again. I can’t trust that love won’t turn into pain.” Eminem’s words echo sentiments he shared in a 2017 interview with Vulture, where he admitted to having trust issues and struggling with dating post-divorce: “It’s tough. Since my divorce, I’ve had a few dates and nothing’s panned out in a way that I wanted to make it public.”

Eminem’s distrust of love isn’t just about Kim—it’s also tied to his fear of being exploited. As a global superstar with over 220 million records sold and a net worth of $250 million, he has long been wary of people’s motives. “When you’re at my level, you never know why someone’s with you,” he told Hailie. “Are they there for me, or for what I can give them? I can’t take that risk—not after everything I’ve been through.” This sentiment aligns with comments from a friend reported by Radar Online in 2023, who noted, “Marshall is just very distrustful of what a woman’s motivations might be for wanting to be with him.”

Despite his disillusionment with romantic love, Eminem emphasized that his life is far from empty. “I’ve got all the love I need right here,” he said, gesturing to Hailie and mentioning his grandson Elliot, as well as his adopted daughters Alaina and Stevie, and his half-brother Nathan, whom he raised. “Being a dad, now a grandpa—that’s where I find my peace. I don’t need a relationship to feel whole.” Eminem’s focus on family has been a constant in his life, even as he navigated addiction, fame, and personal turmoil. His 2013 song “Headlights” was a public apology to his mother, Debbie Nelson, and he has since prioritized his role as a father, attending Hailie’s wedding to Evan McClintock in May 2024 and celebrating Alaina’s nuptials in 2023.

The revelation has sparked a wave of reactions from fans on social media, with many expressing both sadness and admiration for Eminem’s honesty. On X, one user wrote, “Eminem saying he doesn’t believe in love anymore breaks my heart, but I get it. Kim put him through hell, and fame made it worse.” Another commented, “He’s been through so much—love failed him, but his kids saved him. That’s the real Marshall Mathers.” The interview also reignited discussions about the toxic dynamics of his relationship with Kim, who has faced her own struggles, including a 2021 suicide attempt and a 45-day rehab stint in 2023 following the deaths of her mother and sister.

Eminem’s admission sheds light on the lasting impact of his past, but it also highlights his resilience. Despite his struggles with love, he has channeled his pain into his art, creating some of the most iconic songs in hip-hop, from “Lose Yourself” to “Love the Way You Lie.” His 2024 album The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) continued to grapple with his legacy, and he remains a mentor to young artists through Shady Records, as well as a collaborator with longtime friend 50 Cent, with whom he’s rumored to be working on a joint album in 2025.

As Eminem continues to navigate life as a grandfather and a music legend, his revelation about love offers a poignant reminder of the human cost of fame. “I don’t believe in love anymore,” he told Hailie, “but I believe in family. That’s what keeps me going.” For a man who once rapped about his darkest emotions, Eminem’s journey toward peace is a testament to his strength—a story that resonates with fans who have followed him from the streets of Detroit to the pinnacle of hip-hop, and now into a new chapter defined by the love he still holds for those closest to him.