Eminem once hoped Mariah carey would play his on-screen mother in 8 Mile, according to music producer Damion “Damizza” Young – despite there only being a four-year age gap between them.
The rapper, now 52, starred as Jimmy “B-Rabbit” Smith in the 2002 semi-autobiographical film.
Despite being only four years younger than Carey, Eminem allegedly believed she was the right fit to portray his character’s troubled mother, a role that ultimately went to Kim Basinger.
Speaking on the TFU Podcast last week, Damizza claimed he was the one who first introduced Eminem to Mariah back in the early 2000s. At the time, he said he was also advising Carey not to take on the critically panned lead role in Glitter.
“So I go to Mariah, and I’m like, ‘Look, Eminem wants to meet you,’ and she’s like, ‘No,’” Damizza recalled. According to him, Carey initially wasn’t interested in connecting with the rapper, until she learned it was about a potential movie role, not a musical collaboration.
Damizza said he initially urged Eminem not to bring up the film idea to Carey, but eventually relented and helped arrange a phone call between the two stars. That’s when Eminem made his pitch.
“I want you to play my mother,” he allegedly told Carey.
According to Damizza, the suggestion didn’t go over well. “She did not like that s**t at all,” he said. “Her insecurities kicked in big time.”
Carey never took the part, and the role of B-Rabbit’s alcoholic mother was ultimately filled by Academy Award winner Kim Basinger.
Eminem and Mariah Carey were later linked in a rumored and contentious relationship, which played out publicly in diss tracks and interviews though Carey has long denied any romantic involvement.
