On July 25, 2025, Netflix released Happy Gilmore 2, the long-awaited sequel to Adam Sandler’s 1996 cult classic, delivering a star-studded sports comedy that has fans buzzing with its eclectic cameos. Among the most surprising is Eminem, the Detroit rap icon, who appears not as himself but as Donald Jr., the son of the heckler from the original film, while weaving in a heartfelt tribute to his alter ego, Slim Shady. The cameo, described as “wild” and “hilarious” by Eminem.Pro, has sparked a frenzy on X, with fans like @FrostyzWRLD tweeting, “Eminem in Happy Gilmore 2? The internet’s gonna lose it!” This article dives into Eminem’s unexpected role, its nostalgic nods to Slim Shady, the film’s broader context, critical reception, and its significance in Sandler’s comedy universe, drawing on recent reports and online reactions.

A Shocking Cameo: Eminem as Donald Jr.

In Happy Gilmore 2, directed by Kyle Newacheck, Eminem plays Donald Jr., the son of the heckler Donald, originally portrayed by the late Joe Flaherty, who famously taunted Happy Gilmore (Adam Sandler) by yelling “jackass!” during his golf swings in the 1996 film. Eminem’s character channels that same chaotic energy, sporting a dark wig, beard, and bucket hat, per Billboard. Mid-scene, he delivers a classic “jackass!” heckle, echoing his father’s antics, before escalating into a physical confrontation with Happy’s sons, who toss him into an alligator-infested lake—a brutal nod to the original film’s alligator, Morris, per TMZ. As he’s mauled, Eminem screams, “I don’t give a fuck!”—a direct callback to his 1997 track “Just Don’t Give a Fuck” and its 1999 follow-up, “Still Don’t Give a Fuck,” from The Slim Shady LP, per Eminem.Pro.

The cameo’s pièce de résistance comes in a surreal twist: after his character’s demise, Donald Jr. reunites with his father and Chubbs Peterson (Carl Weathers) in a heavenly scene, waving down at Happy alongside other deceased characters like Bob Barker and Grandma Gilmore, per EW. This moment, blending slapstick with sentiment, honors Flaherty, who passed in 2024, while showcasing Eminem’s comedic flair. Adam Sandler, who co-wrote the script, revealed on The Dan Patrick Show that he hesitated to “bother” Eminem but couldn’t resist casting him, saying, “Everybody kept saying, ‘Man, Eminem would be so funny in this part!’” per Eminem.Pro. Eminem fully committed, donning a prosthetic butt—a wink to his “The Real Slim Shady” video—and unleashing “dad Rosanne Barr-style chaos, per Eminem.Pro.

Slim Shady’s Nostalgic Echoes

Eminem’s cameo is more than a comedic bit; it’s a nostalgic tribute to his Slim Shady persona, the provocative alter ego introduced in 1999’s The Slim Shady LP, which recently re-entered the UK charts at #32, per Eminem.Pro. The “I don’t give a fuck!” line and prosthetic butt are deliberate nods to Slim Shady’s irreverent, boundary-pushing spirit, seen in classics like “Without Me” and “Stan.” Fans on Reddit’s r/Eminem noted the “Guilty Conscience”-like inflection in his delivery, with u/Shay_adi commenting, “It’s like Slim Shady jumped straight out of 1999 into this golf course,” per Reddit. The cameo aligns with Eminem’s 2024 album The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), which climbed to #6 on the Billboard 200, reflecting renewed interest in his early persona, per Eminem.Pro. By blending these references into a comedy sequel, Eminem bridges his musical legacy with a new audience, per Billboard.

However, the role of Donald Jr. isn’t a direct nod to Chubbs’ son, as initially rumored. Early speculation suggested Eminem might play Slim Peterson, the son of Chubbs (Carl Weathers), who instead is portrayed by Lavell Crawford, per NBC News. Slim Peterson, with a prosthetic hand lost to a vending machine accident, coaches Happy alongside Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald), per Wikipedia. Eminem’s Donald Jr., tied to Flaherty’s heckler, serves a different narrative purpose, amplifying the film’s humor while paying homage to the original’s irreverent tone, per Variety.

The Context: Happy Gilmore 2’s Star-Studded Return

Happy Gilmore 2 revisits the hot-headed golfer Happy Gilmore (Sandler), now a retired alcoholic struggling after accidentally killing his wife, Virginia (Julie Bowen), with a stray golf ball in 2014, per Wikipedia. Motivated to fund his daughter Vienna’s (Sunny Sandler) ballet school tuition, Happy returns to golf to face Frank Manatee (Benny Safdie) and his stunt-based Maxi Golf league, per Netflix Tudum. The film, released on July 25, 2025, after filming in New Jersey from September to December 2024, boasts a sprawling cast, including returning stars like Christopher McDonald and Ben Stiller, alongside cameos from Bad Bunny, Travis Kelce, Post Malone, and pro golfers like Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, per Netflix Tudum.

The sequel pays tribute to deceased original cast members—Carl Weathers, Frances Bay, Bob Barker, and Joe Flaherty—through a graveyard brawl and a heavenly reunion scene, per LADBible. A subtle nod to Cameron Boyce, Sandler’s Grown Ups co-star who died in 2019, appears via a Jessie clip on a TV screen, per Indian Express. Eminem’s cameo fits this nostalgic framework, balancing humor with homage, per EW. The film’s 65% Rotten Tomatoes score and 51/100 on Metacritic reflect mixed reviews, with RogerEbert.com’s Richard Roeper giving it three stars for its “dumb, slapstick appeal,” per Wikipedia.

Critical Reception and Fan Reactions

Eminem’s cameo has been a highlight, with Variety calling it a “pivotal and hilarious” moment that captures the original’s vibe, per Variety. Billboard noted Eminem “takes a page out of Flaherty’s book,” while TMZ praised its “malevolent” energy, per Billboard TMZ. On X, @SonaShady8 urged, “Eminem as always was hilarious, Go and watch,” while @FrostyzWRLD predicted, “The internet’s going to have a field day,” per Manchester Evening News. Reddit’s r/hiphopheads lauded Eminem’s “Dark Souls roll” and comedic timing, though some, like u/Feeling-Victory-2916, found the alligator scene “mean-spirited” and “unrealistic,” per Reddit. Despite mixed feelings about the film’s two-hour runtime and low-brow humor, Eminem’s scene is a fan-favorite, per Reddit.

Critics see the cameo as a step up from Eminem’s Funny People role in 2009, showcasing his acting range, per Eminem.Pro. Sandler’s hesitation to cast him, fearing it would disrupt Eminem’s Detroit life, underscores the cameo’s significance, per Mens Journal. Eminem’s commitment, from prosthetic butt to Shady-esque lines, proves his comedic prowess, per Eminem.Pro. The scene’s absurdity—culminating in an alligator attack—fits the film’s “sheer stupid energy,” per RogerEbert.com.

Significance in Sandler’s Universe and Eminem’s Legacy

Happy Gilmore 2 is a love letter to the original, blending nostalgia with fresh chaos, per Netflix Tudum. Eminem’s cameo, alongside stars like Bad Bunny and Travis Kelce, elevates its star power, reflecting Sandler’s knack for assembling eclectic ensembles, per NBC News. The film’s plot, inspired by the LIV Golf-PGA Tour rivalry, grounds its absurdity in real-world context, per Wikipedia. Eminem’s role as Donald Jr., not Chubbs’ son as rumored, aligns with the film’s tribute to Flaherty, while his Slim Shady nods tie into his 2024 album’s chart success, per Eminem.Pro. His 2025 XXL Awards win as “The People’s Champ” underscores his enduring fanbase, amplifying the cameo’s impact, per Eminem.Pro.

The cameo bridges Eminem’s 8 Mile gravitas and his comedic chops, seen in his 2021 BMF role as White Boy Rick, per Billboard. It resonates with fans nostalgic for The Slim Shady LP’s raw energy, which re-entered UK charts in July 2025, per Eminem.Pro. By merging hip-hop bravado with Sandler’s slapstick, Eminem creates a “jaw-dropping” moment that honors both his legacy and the film’s irreverence, per TMZ.

Broader Implications: Nostalgia and Comedy’s Power

Happy Gilmore 2 taps into nostalgia for 1990s comedy, a genre Sandler defined with films like Billy Madison, per Variety. Eminem’s cameo, with its Slim Shady callbacks, mirrors this, evoking an era when his provocative lyrics dominated pop culture, per Eminem.Pro. The film’s tributes to deceased stars like Weathers and Barker reflect a cultural moment of honoring legacies, per LADBible. Eminem’s chaotic energy, from mooning Happy to his alligator-fueled exit, embodies the film’s “Three Stooges” appeal, per RogerEbert.com.

The cameo also highlights Hollywood’s trend of blending music and comedy, seen in cameos by Post Malone and Bad Bunny, per NBC News. Eminem’s ability to steal scenes, despite limited screen time, reinforces his versatility, per Mens Journal. As fans on X and Reddit celebrate, the cameo cements Slim Shady’s cultural staying power, per Manchester Evening News.

Conclusion

Eminem’s surprise cameo in Happy Gilmore 2, released July 25, 2025, on Netflix, is a comedic triumph that resurrects Slim Shady’s spirit in a nostalgic nod to the 1996 classic. As Donald Jr., Eminem channels his alter ego with a “jackass!” heckle, a prosthetic butt, and a defiant “I don’t give a fuck!” before meeting a wild end in an alligator-infested lake, per Eminem.Pro. Mistakenly rumored to play Chubbs’ son, his role honors Joe Flaherty while weaving in The Slim Shady LP callbacks, delighting fans, per Billboard. Amid Happy Gilmore 2’s star-studded cast and mixed reviews, Eminem’s “full-tilt A-game” steals the show, blending comedy, nostalgia, and chaos in a jaw-dropping moment that proves Slim Shady is back—wilder than ever, per Variety.