From teenage romance to co-parenting, here’s a look at a love between Kim Scott and Eminem that stood the test of time—even after it ended.

credits: pictureseminem on x

The world of music has its share of famous love stories, but few are as turbulent as the one between Marshall Mathers—lovingly self-described as Eminem—and Kimberly Anne Scott. The two have been through highs and lows that are often the stuff of movies, sharing history, family, and enough drama to fill a catalog of rap albums.

A young Eminem and Kim Scott | Credits: Wenn

Kim and Eminem’s story began long before the fame, right back in their high school years, and the impact of their relationship still seems to resonate today. If you’ve ever wondered what happened to Kim, how she’s doing now, or how things ended up, it’s all here—from meeting Marshall, and her battle with depression, to breakups, and everything in between.

Young love in a rough Detroit neighborhood

Eminem and Kim’s story began like something out of a coming-of-age movie. It was 1988, and Eminem was just 15 years old when he met 13-year-old Kim at a house party. He was known for his tendency to make a ruckus, and that night was no different—he was standing on a table, shirt off, performing LL Cool J’s “I’m Bad” for everyone in the room.

Kim had just moved to the Detroit area with her twin sister, Dawn, to escape a difficult family situation and was living in a youth shelter. Eminem’s performance grabbed her attention, and he was instantly piqued by her, too. As he mentioned to Rolling Stone in 2004,

I turned around and she’s at the door. Her friend hands her a cigarette. I said to my friend’s sister, ‘Yo, who was that? She’s kinda hot.’

Soon after, Kim moved in with Eminem and his mother, Debbie Nelson, who in her memoir My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem, recalled, “Marshall arrived home from school with a tall, sulky blonde girl. He introduced her as Kim Scott and said she needed a place to stay. I was happy to help out.” The initial spark between Kim and Eminem was evident, and their relationship quickly blossomed.

Kim Scott and Eminem tie the knot and make it to Detroit | Credits: @PicturesEminem/X

Life in Detroit, however, wasn’t easy. With limited resources and a tough neighborhood plagued by crime, Kim and Eminem’s early years together had their fair share of hardships. They frequently fought, broke up, and got back together, a pattern that would continue for years. Eventually, Eminem’s mother asked them to leave her home, which only added to their struggles at a young age. In this challenging environment, Eminem dropped out of high school to work odd jobs to support himself and Kim.

New Beginnings and Hailie Jade is born

By the mid-90s, Eminem and Kim’s on-again, off-again relationship took a big turn. In December 1995, Kim gave birth to their daughter, Hailie Jade Mathers. Becoming parents was a big moment for the couple, both emotionally and otherwise. And the new responsibilities and pressures only intensified the already strained dynamic between them.

Hailey Jade Matthers is Shady’s driving force | Credits: @shady.is.bae/Instagram

Eminem has often described being a father as “living a double life,” trying to balance his responsibilities at home with the freedom he enjoyed as an artist, stating to Rolling Stone

Once I hit them gates where I live, that’s when I’m Dad. Takin’ the kids to school, pickin’ ’em up, teachin’ ’em rules. I’m not sayin’ I’m the perfect father, but the most important thing is to be there for my kids and raise them the right way.

Despite the added pressure of a child, Hailie became a binding force in Kim and Eminem’s lives. Eminem’s loving devotion to his daughter is evident in several songs, particularly “Hailie’s Song,” where he raps about the joy and sense of purpose she brings him: “My insecurities could eat me alive, but then I see my baby. Suddenly I’m not crazy; it all makes sense when I look into her eyes.”

The couple, nevertheless, struggled financially, living in a neighborhood where crime and theft were constant concerns. In the same interview, Eminem recalled,

[A thief] came back again and took everything but the couches and beds. The pillows, clothes, silverware—everything.

Ebb and flow and the rise of Eminem

Eminem’s career began to gain traction with the release of The Slim Shady LP in 1999, throwing him straight into the spotlight. As often happens with fame came significant changes in both his personal and professional life.

Eminem in 8-Mile | Credits: Universal

Eminem’s music would lay bare the difficulties of his relationship with Kim, with tracks like “‘97 Bonnie & Clyde” and “Kim” focused on violent fantasies that shocked listeners and fueled countless controversies. Lynn Hunt, a former colleague, advised Eminem against such lyrics, but he remained resolute, replying, “Yeah, but it will get me somewhere someday.”

As Eminem’s career was taking shape, he and Kim decided to tie the knot. While they were now husband and wife, the pressures of fame began to take a toll on them as people and also on their marriage. Kim later opened up about this period, saying,

When Marshall’s first tour started is when his ego just went ‘poof,’ like he was God… I was just told that I should be grateful that he still talks to me.

Fame was no doubt a double-edged sword. Eminem would also admit early on in his career expressing that “I always wished for [success], but it’s almost turning into more of a nightmare than a dream.”

In 2000, their relationship hit a particularly low point when Eminem allegedly saw Kim Scott kissing another man, John Guerra, at a nightclub. The incident escalated into a public altercation, resulting in assault charges against Eminem. In a letter, Kim expressed her frustration, denying any infidelity and explaining,

Had he asked any questions before he flew off the handle, he would have realized that everyone with me were only friends. The fact that he just jumped to conclusions has gotten him and myself in trouble

Later that year, Kim attended one of Eminem’s concerts, where he performed “Kim”—a song in which he fantasized about violence against her. On stage, he struck a blow-up doll designed to look like her, drawing cheers and shouts from the crowd. The performance deeply hurt Kim, who later said, “Seeing the crowd’s response… it just felt like everyone was staring at me. I knew that it was about me.” The experience was so distressing that Kim, who had for long struggled with depression, attempted to end her life shortly after – it was no doubt one of the darkest periods in her life.

Slim Shady is no stranger to controversies | Credits: 2014’s The Interview / Sony Picture

Following Kim’s suicide attempt, Eminem filed for divorce. Kim countersued, stating emotional distress due to the songs Eminem had written about her. Although they eventually settled the suit, the divorce was finalized in 2001. This separation, however, was the beginning of another journey altogether – one where they would (something they still continue to do) co-parent their children.

Co-parenting and the journey of healing

After their divorce, Kim and Eminem continued to co-parent Hailie, sharing custody and trying to find a way to work together for their daughter’s well-being. Furthermore, in 2006, the two surprised fans by announcing that they were giving marriage another try. They held a private ceremony attended by friends and family, including Eminem’s rap peers, like 50 Cent, and members of D12. The reconciliation was, nevertheless, short-lived; just three months later, Eminem filed for divorce again.

Eminem in the music video for The Monster | Credits: EminemMusic / YouTube

This time, the split was amicable, and they continued to focus on co-parenting Hailie, who was now joined by two siblings – Alaina Marie Scott, Kim’s niece, whom Eminem had adopted, and Stevie Laine Mathers, whom Kim Scott and Eminem also raised together.

Kim’s niece Alaina – fans would know her as “Lainey” in his music, has been an integral part of their family since birth. She was born in 1993 to Kim’s twin sister, Dawn, who struggled with substance abuse issues and tragically passed away from an overdose in 2016. Eminem adopted Alaina to provide her with a stable home. In his song “Mockingbird,” he expresses his love for her: “Lainey, uncle’s crazy, ain’t he? / Yeah, but he loves you, girl, and you better know it. We’re all we got in this world.”

Kim’s life today, battles with depression and focusing on family

In recent years, Kim has largely stayed out of the public eye, choosing to focus on family and personal growth, although she occasionally makes a cameo in social media posts shared by her daughters. It also seems Kim’s relationship with Eminem has settled into a place of mutual respect and friendship.

Kim Scott with her three children | Credits: @slimbarbara/Instagram

Rumors circulated in 2010 that they might be rekindling their romance, but Eminem quickly clarified that, while they weren’t together, they were “really close friends” and focused on co-parenting.

Having dealt with depression all her life, Scott would make a decision in 2015 that would change her life. After downing a fifth of Malibu rum and taking prescription pills, she got behind the wheel of her Cadillac Escalade and drove it straight into a utility pole.

“I sat at the end of a road where I knew that no one else but myself would get hurt,” she later shared on 95.5 WKQI’s Mojo in the Morning. “Yes, I drank, I took pills and I hit the gas and aimed for a pole.” She went on,

I never expected to make it out of that alive. I apologized immensely. I did not even expect to make it through that, and I told [police] that I tried to do this on purpose.

The crash left her with a concussion, some broken toes, and a broken wrist. She was booked on a DUI charge and ended up with a year of probation, a $900 fine, and mandatory drug and alcohol counseling.

A frame from the video of “Headlights” | Credits: EminemMusic

Eminem, meanwhile, would go on to release “Bad Husband,” a reflective song that serves as an apology to Kim in 2017. In the track, he acknowledges the mistakes he made, with lyrics like, “We brought out the worst in each other… ‘Cause I loved you, but I hated that me.” This song perhaps spoke for the nuanced nature of their time together—a cocktail blend of love, regret, anger, and a life-long connection.

In 2021, however, Kim Scott would go through another one of her painful moments. According to law enforcement, she was rushed to the hospital after trying to take her own life, reportedly cutting her leg. During her time there, doctors performed both physical and psychological assessments before eventually sending her home.

Since then, it seems like she’s found a better place mentally and physically. Although she tends to keep a low profile, photos of her have surfaced here and there, showing her looking healthier. In 2023, paparazzi captured a rare glimpse of her, sporting a fresh, edgy pixie cut and several visible tattoos—a look that fans noticed was different from her past style.

In May 2024, Kim Scott made another public appearance, one with personal significance. She reunited with her ex-husband, Eminem, to celebrate their daughter Hailie’s wedding. The event marked a meaningful family moment. Scott even made a cameo of sorts in Eminem’s music video for his song “Temporary.” Apparently, in some of the clips from Hailie’s wedding, you can spot Scott in the background, her presence subtly hinted at by a large, distinctive tattoo on her arm.

Hailie Jade is expecting a new member of the family

All three children that Eminem and Kim co-parent – Hailie, Alaina, and Stevie have also made lives for themselves outside the spotlight. Stevie, 22, Stevie came out as nonbinary, sharing their journey with fans and expressing gratitude for their support. They are currently in a long-distance relationship with TikToker Declan Jace. Alaina, 31, who keeps her life relatively private, married Matt Moeller in 2023 in a Detroit ceremony with Eminem.

Hailie, 28, who graduated suma-cum-laude from Michigan State University with a degree in psychology, is now a social media influencer with over a million followers on Instagram.

Hailie Jade hosts ‘just a little shady’ | Credits: @hailiejade, Instagram

Only last year, she got married to long-term partner Evan McClintock who studied economics at MSU and works as an enterprise growth executive for a software development company, helping luxury brands and big companies tackle anti-counterfeiting efforts. Despite Hailie’s high-profile social presence though, she and Evan have mostly kept things private, with her only occasionally sharing glimpses of their relationship on social media.

In fact, Evan’s Instagram is set to private, with just over 700 followers compared to Hailie’s 3 million. But he’s got the family’s seal of approval. Eminem himself mentioned Evan in 2020, calling him “a good guy,” and Hailie’s uncle Nathan also seems to be a fan.

The couple’s love story began back in 2016 at Michigan State University, and after years of dating, they got engaged on February 4, 2023. Over a year later, they tied the knot, sharing beautiful wedding photos online with the caption, “Waking up as a wife this week. We couldn’t have asked for a better, more beautiful weekend celebration.”

Hailie Jade and husband Evan McClintock announce her pregnancy | Credits: @hailiejade, Instagram

Kim Scott, meanwhile, must be looking forward to becoming a grandmother. On the latest episode of the Just A Little Shady podcast, Hailie announced that she’s expecting her first child.

You may or may not be tuning in because you could have heard the news that I’m pregnant. Yay! We finally shared it. It’s such a relief to finally say it.

Hailie and her co-host, best friend Brittany Ednie, also shared the funny story of how they managed to keep her pregnancy a secret during her wedding back in May. While they re-told the story, Hailie laughed as she teased Brittany about her tipsy monologue that night, which somehow turned into a 30-minute speech about her fear of The Joker.

Brittany, on an immediate defensive, replied, “I need to also defend myself now that this is public knowledge—that you are pregnant—because, at said wedding, people did not know that she was pregnant.” She further explained how they had a little system going.

She was, you know, grabbing a drink, not consuming the drink as a responsible parent does. Whenever people were turned around, she would hand me her drink, and I would chug so it looked as if she was continuously drinking throughout that night.

Hailie chimed in with a laugh, saying, “Brittany was taking one for the team. Well, then I’ll defend myself, though, because I never really asked you to do it. It was like an unspoken thing with our eyes.”

She also mentioned that usually her husband, Evan, is her go-to for situations like this, where he can discreetly take a sip for her. But on the wedding night, he funnily enough wasn’t in the mood for her choice of drink. “I was having a lavender lemonade, and Evan was like, ‘I don’t want that.’ But you,” she said, looking at Brittany, “were quick to say, ‘Oh, I’ll drink some.’ – a true team effort to keep the secret safe.

Meanwhile, Hailie’s dad, Eminem, broke the news to the world in his own way – the music video for Temporary ended in an emotional scene where Hailie surprises him with her pregnancy news. In the video, Hailie hands him a blue football jersey that says “Grandpa” along with a sonogram image.