Anthony Mackie called Eminem an a-hole after revealing that the rapper drew from his life story for the famous rap battle scene in 8 Mile.
The two co-starred in the acclaimed 2002 drama, widely believed to be based on Eminem’s life, but Mackie disclosed that some parts were also inspired by his own experiences.
Anthony Mackie Exposes 8 Mile’s Iconic Rap Battle
Anthony Mackie shared the truth on The Pivot Podcast’s Tuesday episode about what really happened behind the scenes during the final rap battle in 8 Mile.
The actor reflected on his upbringing in New Orleans and his Hollywood career, but one of the most notable stories he shared was about Eminem’s surprising move during the freestyle rap.
Mackie revealed that Slim Shady was actually roasting him about his personal life, touching on his two-parent household and his private school education.
“You're talking about me, not Clarence!” the Captain America: Brave New World star recalled, standing there with an angry expression. “This has nothing to do with the character.”
He then called Eminem an “a***hole” jokingly on the podcast and added, “I wanna fight this motherf***er. I’m like, yes, my parents are still married.”
Mackie also praised Eminem as a “brilliant dude” who aimed to understand why the two characters were “beefing.” The multi-platinum rapper expanded Mackie’s role by having a deep conversation with him about his personal life, which helped him craft a backstory for the antagonist.
8 Mile marked the first film for both icons, with Mackie playing Papa Doc, the rival of B-Rabbit, portrayed by Eminem. The film became a hit in the 2000s, earning $242 million and introducing the Oscar-winning song Lose Yourself.
Anthony Mackie Reveals He Didn't Expect to Become Captain America
On the same podcast, Mackie opened up about the challenges he faced in being cast as Captain America.
“I don’t think it’s a question of convincing people or convincing the world,” he replied when asked what was more difficult: proving he was the right replacement for Chris Evans or showing that Captain America can be Black.
He added, “My biggest hurdle was convincing myself.”
The 46-year-old American admitted he never expected to replace Chris Evans. “We have a perfectly good Captain America in the role, doing a great job. So, why me?” he quipped in the video.
Mackie shared his thoughts on the fear of failure when given a huge opportunity, such as stepping into the shoes of one of Marvel’s most iconic heroes.
“That was one of the hardest parts. I never saw it happening, but when it happened, I was in shock. Then I got afraid.” He credited his mentors for guiding him along the way.
The Juilliard graduate noted that he was a “master of his craft,” having dedicated 10,750 hours to training before landing an acting job. He addressed critics who questioned his worthiness for the role, especially with the new movie Captain America: Brave New World, which premiered this February.
The latest Captain America film earned $371.8 million, making it the fourth-lowest-grossing movie in the MCU to date. However, the general negative feedback focused more on the writing than the performances.
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