Britney Spears just dropped her memoir, The Woman in Me, and it’s already making waves, particularly with revelations about Eminem and his ex-wife. The book, which sold over 1.1 million copies across all formats in its first week, is hitting hard in the literary world. Gallery Books, the publisher, shared the news on Wednesday.
The sales numbers are in the same league as some of the biggest celebrity memoirs in recent years. Prince Harry’s Spare moved 1.6 million copies in the U.S. during its debut week, while Mary Trump’s Too Much and Never Enough sold 1.4 million in 2020. As Google Books puts it, the world was tuned in when Britney spoke out in court in June 2021. Her truth was powerful, marking a turning point not just for her, but for countless others. The Woman in Me is her chance to share her journey and the inner strength that has kept her on top in the pop game.
In an unexpected twist, Eminem and his ex-wife make a cameo in the pages of her book. Here’s a glimpse of the passage:
“The thought of me betraying him gave the album more angst, gave it a purpose: s–t-talking an unfaithful woman. The hip-hop world of that era loved a storyline with the theme ‘F–k you, b–ch!’ Getting revenge on women for perceived disrespect was all the rage at that time. Eminem’s violent revenge song ‘Kim’ was huge. The only problem with the narrative was that, in our case, it wasn’t like that.” – Britney Spears.
Eminem’s track “Kim” gets a mention in Britney’s memoir, shedding light on the dark side of the hip-hop revenge narratives that were trending back then.
“Kim” is one of the standout tracks from Eminem’s 2000 classic The Marshall Mathers LP. The song is a raw, visceral reflection of his anger towards his then-wife, Kim Mathers, featuring Eminem mimicking her voice. The song takes a dark turn, ending with Eminem killing Kim and disposing of her body in his car trunk.
This track was one of the first songs Eminem recorded after finishing The Slim Shady LP in late 1998. He penned “Kim” alongside “’97 Bonnie & Clyde,” a song about him and his daughter Hailie disposing of Kim’s body, as their relationship crumbled and Kim blocked his access to their daughter. Despite the graphic, controversial content, “Kim” remains one of Eminem’s most unforgettable tracks, a perfect example of his intense, often disturbing storytelling.