Moby is waving the white flag—decades after one of music’s most unexpected feuds exploded on the Grammy stage.
In a new interview with The Times on February 20, the 60-year-old electronic icon stunned fans by praising Eminem as “very progressive” and “very smart,” a dramatic shift from the tension that defined their early-2000s clash. Moby specifically applauded Eminem’s outspoken criticism of Donald Trump and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, noting that it carries extra weight given the rapper’s largely middle-American fan base.
“It’s not surprising when celebrities like Mark Ruffalo or myself criticize Trump,” Moby said, emphasizing that Eminem’s political stance stands out precisely because of who listens to him. According to Moby, watching the Detroit rapper evolve over time has reshaped how he sees him.
The bad blood dates back to the 2001 Grammy Awards, when Moby publicly criticized Eminem’s lyrics as misogynistic and homophobic. Eminem fired back the following year in his hit “Without Me,” mocking Moby in a now-infamous verse. Moby later addressed the diss on his blog, saying he found humor in it—but he didn’t back down from his concerns about the content.
Looking back during a 2023 podcast appearance, Moby admitted he may have escalated the feud by joking on MTV that Eminem was “closeted,” a remark he now acknowledges likely poured gasoline on the fire. Fast-forward 25 years, and the tone has clearly changed. With Moby releasing his 23rd studio album, Future Quiet, and gearing up for Coachella 2026, the veteran musician seems more focused on growth than grudges.
