Eminem & Christopher Reeve: The Death of Slim Shady Song References Explained

The Eminem Christopher Reeve reference has been revived once more in the rap artist’s 2024 album The Death of Slim Shady. Eminem mentions the actor’s name in the track “Brand New Dance,” though this is far from the first time that he has used the late actor’s name in his lyrics. This had led to some fans speculating that the rapper still has some strange beef with Reeve, but the relationship is simpler than that. Here’s an explanation of why Eminem mentions Christopher Reeve in his songs.

Who is “Christopher Reeves” in Eminem’s songs?

The “Christopher Reeve” (or the plural “Christopher Reeves”) in Eminem’s songs refers to the late actor of the same name who famously played Superman in Superman (1978), Superman II (1980), and Superman III (1983). The reason for the occasional plural form of the actor’s name in the lyrics is because it rhymes better with other words that end in an ‘s’ sound.

The controversy for Eminem mentioning Reeve is due to the actor becoming paraplegic after an equestrian accident in May 1995 that resulted in cervical spinal injury. Eminem would frequently diss Reeve throughout his songs, poking fun at his handicap, even after the actor’s passing in October 2004.

Does Eminem hate Christopher Reeve?

Eminem doesn’t hate Christopher Reeve, though the shock value of dissing a beloved actor keeps in line with his rapping persona, Slim Shady. In the song “Medicine Ball” from the Album Relapse, he states:

Now everybody’s pissed at me/

Like it’s my fault his name rhymes with so many different words, jeez

One of his most controversial lyrics about the actor comes in the song “I’m Back” from Eminem’s 2000 album The Marshall Mathers LP where he says in the second verse:

It’s a sick world we live in these days /

Slim, for Pete’s sakes, put down Christopher Reeve’s legs!” (Oh, oh, oh, oh!) /

Geez, you guys are so sensitive /

Slim, it’s a touchy subject, try and just don’t mention it

The lyrics start with the idea that there’s something wrong with society but then flips this expectation on its head by implying that people can’t talk about the actor negatively. The use of “touchy” in the last line is also a pun on the actor’s condition.

In “Brand New Dance” from Eminem’s latest album, he continues to tease Reeve in these lyrics:

Get up /

Everybody on the dance floor, come on /

That means you too, Chris

Later in the chorus, where he asks the audience to dance, he says “On the count of three, everybody do the Christopher Reeves.”

The continual jests at Reeves are nostalgia for the Slim Shady persona, though Eminem doesn’t have an actual grievance with him.

Why does Eminem say “Christopher Reeve” in his song lyrics?

Eminem uses “Christopher Reeve” in his lyrics mainly to be shocking and as a way to make certain lines rhyme.

The artist has mentioned the actor’s name in “Purple Pills,” “Rain Man,” “Who Knew,” “Medicine Ball,” and “My 1st Single.” In the last song mentioned there, he sings, “It’s the Mr. Picked-on-Christopher-Reeves-just-for-no-reason / Other than to—just to tease him.” This is proof enough that there’s no real malice behind mentioning the actor throughout his discography.