Reading 2017 headliner: Eminem slams Donald Trump and bans BBC from broadcasting his set
Eminem has completed the first night of his headline set at Reading and Leeds festival. Festival goers set off red and green flares during the rap legend’s show, while one even climbed to the top of the speaker tower to get the best view in the house.
Spitting his way through a career-spanning set at speed, the 44-year-old star delivered hits that included ‘Stan’, ‘Lose Yourself’ and ‘Real Slim Shady’, and also performed his remix cover of ‘The Hills’ by The Weeknd.
Early on he made it clear he hates Donald Trump and that America “has many problems.”
“So Reading. I’m not about to stand up here and use this f***ing stage as a platform to get all political and s**t and I don’t want to cause any controversy, but this motherf****r Donald Trump – I can’t stand him.”
He then asked the crowd to chant and said: “When I say ‘f**k’, you say ‘Trump’: F**k Trump, F**k Trump.”
Which they duly did.
Eminem – Sing for the Moment ( Reading Festival 2017) Exclusive
Posted by Eminem 2017 on Saturday, August 26, 2017
A huge screen behind him changed his stage theatrics from a church to a massive boombox, as Slim told the crowd that he doesn’t drink, but he had “a suspicion that nearly everyone here is doing an illegal or legal substance.”
Credit must go to Eminem’s backing singer, who filled in beautifully as Rihanna on ‘Love The Way You Lie’ and Dido on ‘Stan’.
The rapper took to Twitter to say he loved playing Reading, and some of his fans flocked to the site to agree that his set was incredible and it gave them ‘goosebumps’ to see him perform.
Honored to play Reading & Leeds this weekend.. thanks Reading. Can’t wait for Leeds! pic.twitter.com/bGsJsH4OaA
— Marshall Mathers (@Eminem) August 27, 2017
Epic night at Reading watching @Eminem. Absolutely loved it.
— Matt (@mattasker1) August 27, 2017
Wowwww eminem is honestly giving me goosebumps listening to him live at reading festival
— Leah Cowgill (@leahelizabeth05) August 26, 2017
FIRST HE PLAYED THE WEEKND AND NOW HAYLEY WILLIAMS?????? EMINEM WHAT ARE U DOIN BUT ALSO I LOVE IT
— katt // @ reading (@kattparry) August 26, 2017
But others wondered if he mimed most of his set.
Could this be why he blocked TV coverage of it?
BBC Music revealed he stopped them broadcasting the show, writing on Twitter: “Unfortunately we will not be bringing you coverage of Eminem at #ReadingFestival, he has asked us not to broadcast his set.”
Imagine coming all the way to reading to watch Eminem for him to mime every single word @OfficialRandL
— rochelle (@hey_rochelle) August 26, 2017
Eminem’s full Reading 2017 setlist:
3 AM
Business
Kill You
Mosh
Evil Deeds
Rap God
Soldier
Criminal
The Way I Am
Detroit vs Everybody
Fast Lane
The Hills Remix
Drop The World
Stan
Forever
Till I Collapse
Cinderella Man
My Name Is
Eminem completes his headline booking with a performance in Leeds tonight.
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