Eminem has refuted those reports that he is planning on giving up live performances to concentrate on his career as a record producer.
As previously reported, those reports stemmed from an interview with his D-12 bandmate Proof in the Detroit Free Press. Proof said Slim Shady would be taking a step back from performing live, suggesting that the rapper's show at Slane Castle in Ireland on 17 Sep would be his last. While Eminem's manager Paul Rosenberg would not comment on what Proof said, he further fuelled the rumours by saying that Mr Mather's current album 'Encore' was "certainly the cap on this part of his career".
However Eminem has told his audience at a Washington date of his current Anger Management tour this week that reports of his pending retirement have been greatly exaggerated. He said: "How many of you all read the tabloids? Cause there's some shit goin' around that I'm retiring".
He then reportedly joked that the story about him in the Detroit Free Press ran next to another report titled "moon to blow up today". He then added, "I'm retiring? Then I guess the moon just blew up", after which he mooned the crowd - again. I know, if he isn't ready to retire from public life, perhaps he could just give up mooning in public - it is, after all, getting a bit tedious.
Elsewhere in Slim Shady news, reports that Eminem and 50 Cent may have one of their Anger Management tour dates shifted because of Manchester United. Mr Shady et al are due to play the Lancashire County Cricket Club in Manchester on 14 Sep. However, depending on what way the UEFA Champions League draw goes on 26 Aug, Man Utd might also be playing at home ground Old Trafford that night. The cricket ground and football stadium are just around the corner from each other, and local authorities say that one bit of Manchester can't cope with hosting both events in one evening. So Anger Management promoters have had to agree that they will bring their event forward a night should Man Utd end up playing at home on 14 Sep.