Whatever You Say I Am_ The Life and Times of Eminem - Anthony Bozza [109]
Marshall used to write to him, and the letters would come back “return to sender.” He got one letter in 1982 with two pictures, one of his dad with a surfboard and one at a birthday party with a note that said, “Call me sometime.” It was too hard for Marshall at that point.
He just shoved it away and said he didn’t want anything to do with the guy.
His dad never affected Marshall because he didn’t miss having a father. I was always there for him and we were very tight. I would just go to the Father’s Day at school. He thought that was neat. Or one of my friends who was male might go with him. I was very selective about who I had my children around, as I am today. Marshall was always very sheltered.
Marshall called any men friends I had boyfriends. I would try to explain the difference between boyfriends and friends. Sometimes they might stay on the couch or something if they didn’t want to drive all the way home. I’m an affectionate, huggy person, always have been, and he took that the wrong way. I give everybody a kiss. It was a jealousy thing—“How come you hugged him?” Marsh was the man of the house.
For a single parent, I did well. I’m tiny, five foot, two, and ninety-eight pounds soaking wet. Everyone tells me I look like a blonde Cher. First it was Heather Locklear, now it’s Cher. I like Cher.
Exhibit C: testimony of Marshall Mathers
DATED MARCH 1999:
I hated Kim so fucking bad for like a year because I thought she was fucking her boss at work. It devastated me. I had my deal! I got engaged to her, bought her a ring, went out on a limb for that girl. I took some of the advance and flew her and Hailie out to L.A., flew ’em back. I had bought us both, but really for her and Hailie, a car. I came back from L.A. a day earlier than I should’ve and I went to her house, and since she left the door unlocked, I went upstairs in her room and found my engagement ring in the box. I’m like, what the fuck is going on. I wait outside her house until four in the morning. She’s gone with my car and never came back—she stayed the night somewhere. I go to her job the next day to a pay phone right next to her job and call and say I’m in L.A. still. I’m like, so where were you at last night. She’s like, “Oh, where did we go, Dawn?” That’s her sister, they work in the same place. “What time did we come home?” She’s like, oh, about 12:30. I was like, oh, that’s cool because I waited until four o’clock in the fucking morning outside your house, you fucking bitch! You’re fucking busted, I’m right next door, I want the keys to my fucking car! Walked one block, she came out of her work and just gave me the keys. Didn’t say nothing. She still denies it to this day.
Exhibit D: testimony of Kim Mathers, as it appeared in
the Detroit Free Press
DATED JUNE 2001.
[In a letter to the paper following the altercation outside the Hot Rocks Cafe, Kim Mathers presented her point of view on the incident and the role of the press and public in her personal life. Mathers stated that although her husband is an entertainer, their personal life is not public property, but since the world views it that way she had, this once, decided to step forward to set the record straight. Mathers claimed that she was out with a group of friends that night, not being unfaithful as her husband assumed, and that if she was going to be unfaithful she would not do so at the neighborhood bar at which she told him she would be. Below is an excerpt from the letter:]
I would also like to state, since my husband has had no problem trying to make me look like an unfaithful wife, that every time I find a picture of him with other women, or read in magazines that he’s involved with “groupies,” I don’t go and show up where he is, making a huge scene and getting our faces put all over the TV and papers. I have always taken his word on things and stood by his side. Even after the whole situation up at Hot Rocks, I tried to defend him.
Sincerely,