November 7, 2013
Sia to Donate Eminem Collaboration Earnings to Homeless LGBT Youth
Jason St. Amand READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Coming on the heels of some harsh criticism for her participation on Eminem's new album, musician and songwriter Sia announced this week that she will be donating the earnings she receives from her recent work with the controversial rapper to help homeless LGBT youth in Los Angeles.
Her announcement comes shortly after the artist, who is openly bisexual, was slammed for having a guest spot on Eminem's new album "The Marshal Mathers LP 2," the Huffington Post reports.
Earlier this week Eminem responded to criticisms that he is anti-gay because of the homophobic lyrics and gay slurs in his music, specifically in his new single "Rap God."
"I don't know how to say this without saying it how I've said it a million times. But that word, those kind of words, when I came up battle-rappin' or whatever, I never really equated those words?.?.?.," Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, told Rolling Stone.
"To actually mean 'homosexual?'" Rolling Stone asked.
"Yeah. It was more like calling someone a bitch or a punk or asshole. So that word was just thrown around so freely back then. It goes back to that battle, back and forth in my head, of wanting to feel free to say what I want to say, and then [worrying about] what may or may not affect people," the rapper said. "And, not saying it's wrong or it's right, but at this point in my career - man, I say so much shit that's tongue-in-cheek. I poke fun at other people, myself."
When fans found out Sia, who has worked with Christina Aguilera, Rihanna, Ke$ha, Katy Perry and many more, contributed to Eminem's record, she quickly found herself defending her decision. She told the Huffington Post that she "was under the impression that Eminem's alter-ego Slim Shady was performance art, and a thing of the past, asserting that she does not believe that Eminem is actually homophobic."
It should be noted that the track, "Beautiful Pain," appears on the deluxe edition of "The Marshal Mathers LP 2" and that Rihanna, who has a large gay following, appears on the Eminem single "The Monster" and was on the rapper's 2010 single "Love the Way You Lie."
SheWired reports Sia's donation will help fund "a 50-bed shelter, a transitional living program, medical care, meals, clothing, counseling, GED prep programs, job placement services and more, according to the release from the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center."
Check out "Rap God," "The Monster" and "Beautiful Pain" below: