Censor Restricts Eminem Album To Those 18 And Over

Media release from Office of Film and Literature Classification
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The Classification Office has restricted Eminem's album The Marshall Mathers LP to people aged 18 years and over.

The album contains graphic descriptions of violence, including sexual violence, and crime. The album is filled with offensive and aggressive language that is frequently sexually violent, misogynistic and homophobic.

The Classification Office decided that this album is likely to cause harm to impressionable youths who may not understand Eminem's use of irony and black humour. The Classification Office acknowledged that the CD has artistic merit, but also noted an undertone of calculated exploitation.

Eminem was submitted to the Classification Office as a result of a public complaint about one particular track 'Kim' and the album's availability to young people. This track speaks explicitly about a man raping and killing his ex-partner.

Under current law, sound recordings do not have to be classified before being released to the public. However, Chief Censor Bill Hastings says he would encourage “music distributors to take responsibility and submit potentially problematic CDs for classification before marketing them to the public."

Contact: Bill Hastings or Cathrine Austin on:
Ph (04) 471 6770

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