Nick Cannon is revisiting one of hip-hop’s most talked-about celebrity feuds — and he says his response to Eminem was about defending Mariah Carey, his wife at the time.
During a new appearance on On Par With Maury Povich, released November 9, Cannon was asked about the long-running tension. His explanation was direct: he felt Eminem crossed a line when the rapper brought Carey into the dispute.
Nick Cannon performing at Essence Festival 2025. Photo: Cameron Woods / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Why Nick Cannon says he responded to Eminem
Cannon told Maury Povich that he believed Eminem had disrespected Carey. He also pushed back on the idea that the rapper’s earlier connection with the singer was romantic, describing it as professional from his perspective.
“You can’t come at my wife and don’t expect to get this work,” Cannon said, explaining why he felt compelled to respond while he and Carey were married.
How the feud started — and why it returned
The dispute dates back to 2009, when Eminem referenced Carey and Cannon on “Bagpipes From Baghdad.” Cannon and Carey had married the year before. Carey later released “Obsessed,” while Eminem answered with “The Warning,” adding more fuel to a highly public back-and-forth.
The tension resurfaced in 2019 after Eminem appeared to take another shot at Cannon and Carey on Fat Joe’s “Lord Above.” Cannon answered with a series of diss tracks, including “The Invitation,” “Pray for Him” and “Canceled: Invitation.”
Cannon and Carey’s divorce was finalized in 2016. In earlier comments, Cannon has said he recognizes Eminem’s status as a major figure in hip-hop, even while standing by his decision to respond at the time.
Is the Eminem and Nick Cannon beef back on?
Not based on this interview alone. Cannon was reflecting on the history of the feud during a conversation with Povich; the appearance does not announce a new diss track or establish that a fresh exchange between the two artists is underway.
The interview also covered Cannon’s family life, his relationship with Carey after their divorce and his career. The Eminem discussion appears around the 8:30 mark of the episode.
The Shade Wire takeaway
More than 15 years later, Cannon is still explaining why he felt he had to step into the 2009 dispute. Whether fans see it as loyalty, pride or classic rap beef, his latest comments have put the old story back in the conversation. Do you think Cannon was right to respond, or should he have stayed out of it?
