Nick Cannon revisits Eminem feud, says he had to defend Mariah Carey: ‘I couldn’t stand for that’

The media personality reflects on his yearslong feud with Eminem and why he felt compelled to defend his then-wife.

Nick Cannon revisited his feud with Eminem during an appearance on “On Par with Maury Povich,” saying he felt compelled to defend his then-wife Mariah Carey after the rapper referenced her in his music.

During Monday’s Nov. 9 episode, the comedian and media personality discussed the history behind their exchange of diss tracks, which began after Eminem made references to Carey and Cannon in songs released in 2009.

“He disrespected my woman, man. You can’t come at my wife and don’t expect to get this work,” Cannon said. Nick Cannon explained that he believed Eminem and Carey had previously shared a professional relationship that the rapper viewed as something more personal. By the time Cannon and Carey married in 2008, he said, Eminem was still making pointed remarks about the singer.

“I couldn’t stand for that,” Cannon said, explaining why he felt he needed to defend his relationship.

As reported by Complex, the dispute became public through music. Eminem referenced Carey and Cannon on his 2009 tracks “Bagpipes From Baghdad” and “The Warning.” Carey responded with her song “Obsessed,” accompanied by a music video widely interpreted as taking aim at Eminem. Cannon also entered the exchange, publishing a Tumblr post titled “How Cute,” according to Billboard.

The disagreement resurfaced roughly a decade later after Nick Cannon discussed the letter on an episode of T.I.’s podcast “ExpediTIously.” Eminem responded with the Fat Joe collaboration “Lord Above” in 2019. Cannon subsequently released three diss tracks, continuing the exchange even though he and Carey had divorced in 2016. The former couple share twins Moroccan and Monroe.

Eminem later released “Canceled: Invitation,” a response referencing Cannon’s diss track “The Invitation.” In a 2020 interview with Billboard, Cannon described the exchange as a period of public back-and-forth but acknowledged Eminem’s standing in hip-hop. He also said he remained willing to respond if the rapper continued addressing him.