Eminem Responds to Rudy Giuliani via ‘Lose Yourself’ Spoof on The Late Show
A public dispute between Detroit rapper Eminem and former attorney Rudy Giuliani culminated in a biting satirical rebuttal featured on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The clash began after Giuliani criticized the rapper’s actions during a high-profile sporting event, prompting a creative response from the late-night program.
The Origin of the Conflict
The tension started following the February 13 Super Bowl Halftime Show, where Eminem took a knee. Rudy Giuliani reacted to the gesture by telling 777 WABC that the rapper should “go to another country” if he is interested in free speech. Giuliani’s comments came during a period when he was also facing scrutiny regarding his cooperation with the January 6 investigative committee and his claims regarding the 2020 election.
The ‘Lose Yourself’ Spoof
On February 17, 2022, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert aired a cold open that imagined how Eminem might respond to Giuliani’s remarks. A “sham Shady” performed a parody rap set to the beat of Eminem’s 2002 hit “Lose Yourself.”
The spoof lyrics took direct aim at Giuliani’s personal appearance and history, with lines including:
“Look, his skull’s not hairy/ Teeth fake, thrice-ly married/ The leakage on his cheekage is scary/ Probably sherry/ He’s drunk, but on the surface he looks, well, drunk/ He’s not hiding it, hope he doesn’t whip out his junk/ Like that one scene/ So obscene, he reached for peen”
Visual Satire and Imagery
The rap was accompanied by a montage of Giuliani’s most infamous public moments. The segment highlighted several specific clips to emphasize the mockery, including:
- Footage of the former New York mayor appearing to leak oil from his head.
- A scene from Borat: Subsequent MovieFilm depicting Giuliani lying on a hotel bed and fishing around in his pants in the presence of an actress.
Key Takeaways
- The Trigger: Rudy Giuliani told Eminem to “go to another country” after the rapper kneeled at the Super Bowl Halftime Show on February 13.
- The Response: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert produced a spoof on February 17 using the “Lose Yourself” beat.
- The Content: The spoof targeted Giuliani’s appearance, his marriages, and specific scenes from the Borat sequel.
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