Corey Taylor talks about Gen Z trying to Cancel Eminem.
Is Corey Taylor up to the task of combating cancel culture and online outrage? The Slipknot and Stone Sour frontman is working on his next book, which he says will be about “social media and the age that we live in — the ‘outrage’ age,” according to a new interview. Corey Taylor, the Slipknot and Stone Sour’s lead vocalist recently sat down with Matt Pinfield on 95.5 KLOS Radio for a new interview. On the show, he talks about his debut album, inspirations as a child, new music he has in the works, and much more.
The Great Big Mouth brought up the recent controversy over an inflammatory Eminem verse about Rihanna when speaking with Matt Pinfield. Using historical iconography, the CMFT rocker expressed his concern about the form of control that might lead to harsh censorship.
For perspective, Eminem has been receiving backlash from Gen Z thanks to a Tik Tok user who released a clip of Eminem and Rihanna’s 2010 collaboration “Love The Way You Lie.” The user has petitioned Eminem to be “canceled” because of his line “If she ever tries to f****n’ leave again, I’ma tie her to the bed and set this house on fire” – which, while etched, is supposedly rapped from the perspective of a domestic abuser.
He talks about his upcoming book and the topic it will be on. “It has to do with Social Media and the age that we live in the ‘Outrage’ age,” says Corey Taylor. “And it’s starting to really kind of form in my head. I may actually write it soon. Because It’s really kind of out of control out there right now.”
He also speaks on Eminem recently becoming a target of ‘Cancel Culture’. “I was reading about how Gen Z is trying to cancel Eminem because of one line that was in a Rihanna song [Love The Way You Lie] that he did with her,” he says. “And I’m just like is that where we are right now? I mean at this point, you’re talking about the Salem Witch Trials. You’re talking about America in the 20s where the KKK was a political force. You’re talking about Complete condemnation without Context or any Rationalization for an Action like that.”
“And to me, that’s what most dangerous. When the mob decides that you’re gone. That is Caesar at the Colosseum, for God’s sakes. That’s when It’s dangerous. The level of Censorship that we’re starting to see… And I’m not saying that certain things haven’t been said that easily offend people. However, the flipside of that is that you can’t even make a joke anymore. Even in the cleanest of situations. People completely turn on you.”
“We’re in big trouble” if people “can’t appreciate the difference between metaphor and complete reality,” Taylor remarked. Perhaps the Salem witch trials were exaggerated, but it’s refreshing to see someone who can make a point without going entirely off the rails for a change.
“And there’s not one hint of satire, There’s no hint of Irony. It’s just all-out rage, And it’s all through this [Shows his smartphone]. And that’s when it’s really greedy, That’s when it’s really dirty. It can’t be that way. If we can’t have a conversation, How the hell are we gonna communicate. And if we can’t understand the difference between metaphor and complete reality, Then we’re in real trouble. And that’s where I’m leaning with the book.”
Eminem recently released his new music video for ‘Tone Deaf‘ which is called to be a response to Cancel Culture. Check out Corey Taylor’s full interview below.
