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Courteeners Frontman Liam Fray Hits Back At Eminem Over Manchester Arena Bomb Rap

Courteeners Frontman Liam Fray Hits Back At Eminem Over Manchester Arena Bomb Rap

'Unaccommodating' caused a stir for its distasteful lyrics about the tragic Ariana Grande concert in 2017

Nathan Ryland

Nathan Ryland

Whatever Eminem is up to, controversy is never far behind and the release of his 11th studio album is no different. The rapper released 'Music To Be Murdered By' last Friday and instantly caused a furore with new track 'Unaccommodating'.

The song refers to the tragic bombing at Ariana Grande's Manchester Arena show in 2017 that killed 22 people and injured more.

He spits: "I'm contemplating yelling 'bombs away' on the game/Like I'm outside of an Ariana Grande concert waiting," followed by the sound of an explosion.

Liam Fray, front man of popular indie rock band The Courteeners, claims Eminem has 'crossed a line'.

"It all just felt like an old comedian who can't get on the telly any more just saying something outrageous," said Fray, who hails from Middleton in Greater Manchester.

The two artists are currently going head to head in the album charts, with The Courteeners having just released new album 'More. Again. Forever'.

The Courteeners
The Courteeners

Manchester mayor Andy Burnham also said the lyrics were "unnecessarily hurtful and deeply disrespectful to the families and all those affected".

This is not the first time that Eminem's caused a stir though, with his songs frequently including lyrics that play to ideas of homophobia and misogyny.

In 2014, Eminem was banned from playing at a Hyde Park festival. Organisers decided the potential for his often offensive lyrics to upset other park users would be an unnecessary risk to their reputation.

At the time of the Manchester tragedy Eminem donated to the victims' and their families and encouraged others to do so, leading many to ask why he would then refer to it in a rap.

Ariana Grande holds a special place in the heart of Mancunians following the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017.
PA

This is the second time Eminem has referenced the disaster in a song though. In 2018, during an 11 minute freestyle called 'Kick Off' he raps about a suicide bomber watching Ariana Grande sing her last song of the evening before he "detonates the device strapped to his abdominal region".

He added that he wouldn't finish that line for "obvious reasons" which suggests he did spare a thought for the victims which makes his latest release all for more baffling for some.



Ariana Grande has remained silent on the issue, meanwhile those on social media moved quickly berate 'Slim Shady'. Hashtags such as '#EminemIsCancelled' and 'EminemIsOverParty' speedily trended on Twitter with Eminem fans jumping to his defence.


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