Eminem turned down a very hefty paycheque to perform at the World Cup, according to 50 Cent.
It’d be an understatement to say that those who performed at the sporting event last year received criticism, given host country Qatar’s shocking human rights record.
And while Eminem’s reasons for declining FIFA’s once-in-a-lifetime opportunity aren’t fully clear, friend and fellow rapper 50 is adamant it just wasn’t going to happen.
The In da Club hitmaker, 47, – whose real name is Curtis James Jackson III – revealed that the pair were approached for a duet at the football tournament, with $9million (£7.4m) on the table.
Speaking on Real 92.3’s Big Boy’s Neighbourhood, 50 said he would have taken $1million (£822k), while Eminem, 50 – real name Marshall Bruce Mathers III – would have received the remaining $8million (£6.6m)
‘Because of the Super Bowl, I got an inquiry about World Cup and they had a budget of $9million,’ he revealed, referring to the pair’s Halftime Show in 2021, which they headlined along with Dr Dre, Mary J Blige, and Snoop Dogg, and Kendrick Lamar.
Eminem
Eminem’s team were in talks, but the rapper wasn’t interested in the gig (Picture: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
50 Cent
50 was prepared to take $1million to Eminem’s $8million, but it wasn’t meant to be (Picture: JC Olivera/Getty Images)
‘I would’ve taken one and then the other eight would have been for him,’ 50 added.
But, after discussing the offer with Eminem’s manager Paul Rosenberg, he learnt that the Slim Shady rapper wasn’t interested.
‘They’re like, he’s not gonna do it,’ 50 recalled.
‘If you would do a one-off show, maybe you would do the biggest live sporting event in the world.’
His revelation follows the news that 50 is working on a TV series with long-time pal Eminem, which they promise will be ‘crazy.’
The duo are bringing 8 Mile – Eminem’s 2002 Oscar-winning film debut – to the small screen, with 50 confirming the news on Instagram.
Reposting a Billboard article, he wrote: ‘Yeah and you thought i was PLAYING around, Im so serious man ! this is gonna be crazy. #bransoncognac #lecheminduroi [sic]’.
Chatting further about the project, the Hate It or Love It rapper, said in an interview with Big Boy TV: ‘I’m gonna bring his 8 Mile to television. We’re in motion.
The rappers are currently collaborating on an 8 Mile TV series (Picture: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
It’s gonna be big. I ain’t got no duds. I’m battin’ a hundred, I’m battin’ a hundred.’
When asked if Lose Yourself rapper Eminem needed persuading, he confirmed he did not.
‘No, I think it should be there for his legacy, because if you don’t see… it’s important to me that they understand it, you know what I mean?’, he said.
The rapper went on to tease that the show would provide a ‘backstory’ and revisit Eminem’s younger years.
It’s not known whether Eminem will reprise his role and appear on the screen again, but the project certainly has his blessing.
