Legendary singer Stevie
Wonder recently criticized Eminem’s spoof of pop icon Michael Jackson in the "Just
Lose It" music video, which has come under fire of late.
"Kicking someone
when he’s down is not a good thing," Wonder reportedly told Billboard magazine.
"I have much respect for his work, though I don’t think he’s as good as
Tupac [Shakur]. But I was disappointed that he would let himself go to such
a level."
Michael Jackson
has publicly scorned Eminem for the music video, which ridicules Jackson’s current
child molestation charges.
The video features
Eminem impersonating Jackson as children jump up and down around him on a bed,
while Eminem raps, "I done touched on everything, but little boys / Now,
that’s not a stab at Michael / That’s just a metaphor / I’m just psycho."
The video was pulled
from BET network’s music programs, but not before viewers vilified Eminem’s
portrayal of Jackson.
Wonder, reportedly
calling Eminem a hypocrite, told Billboard magazine that much of Eminem’s success
has been due to support from African-Americans and underprivileged groups.
"He has succeeded
on the backs of people predominantly in that lower pay bracket, people of color,"
Wonder said. "So for him to come out like that is bull."
The single, "Just
Lose It," off Eminem’s latest album Encore, is also reportedly
in the running for a Grammy Award nomination, to be announced Tuesday (Dec.
7).
