Claim:
Posts circulating online claim that after Eminem mocked Michael Jackson in the 2004 song “Just Lose It,” Jackson stayed quiet and later bought Eminem’s entire music catalog so he could profit whenever Eminem performed.
Rating:
Mixture
What’s True
Michael Jackson was connected to Sony/ATV Music Publishing, which held a 50% stake in the company. In 2007, Sony/ATV acquired Famous Music, a publishing company that owned rights connected to several Eminem songs.
What’s False
Jackson did not remain silent after the release of “Just Lose It.” He publicly criticized the music video shortly after it came out in 2004.
It is also inaccurate to claim Jackson personally bought Eminem’s “entire catalog.” The acquisition involved a large publishing company containing thousands of songs from multiple artists, not only Eminem’s music.
What Remains Unclear
Whether “Just Lose It” should be considered a direct “diss” toward Jackson is partly subjective.
We also found no evidence that the 2007 publishing acquisition was intended as revenge against Eminem, nor could we confirm that Jackson personally earned money every time Eminem performed live.
For years, social media users have repeated claims that Michael Jackson secretly “won” a feud with Eminem by purchasing the rapper’s music rights after being mocked in the song “Just Lose It.”
The rumor resurfaced again in 2026 through viral posts on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X, and Reddit.
The story usually claims that Jackson stayed silent after Eminem’s parody before eventually buying the rapper’s “whole catalog” through a business deal.
The reality is more complicated.
Eminem’s 2004 track “Just Lose It” included several references many people interpreted as mocking Jackson, including jokes related to allegations surrounding the pop star and scenes parodying moments from Jackson’s public life and music videos.
Jackson publicly responded
Contrary to the viral claim, Jackson did not remain silent.
Shortly after the song’s release, Jackson publicly criticized the video during a radio interview and described it as “disrespectful” and “outrageous,” according to contemporary media reports.
News outlets at the time also reported that Jackson requested music channels stop airing the video.
These reports directly contradict the online narrative claiming Jackson stayed quiet for years.
What Sony/ATV actually bought
The rumor is loosely based on a real 2007 business acquisition.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing — a joint venture co-owned by Sony and trusts connected to Jackson — purchased Famous Music from Viacom.
Famous Music owned publishing rights to around 125,000 songs, including tracks connected to artists such as:
- Eminem
- Shakira
- Christina Aguilera
The deal included some publishing rights related to Eminem’s songs, but it did not amount to Jackson personally buying Eminem’s “entire catalog.”
Music publishing rights also differ from outright ownership of all recordings and music assets associated with an artist.
Was the deal revenge?
We found no credible evidence suggesting the acquisition was made as retaliation for “Just Lose It.”
Public reporting at the time described the deal as a standard business expansion intended to strengthen Sony/ATV’s music publishing portfolio.
Could Jackson profit from Eminem’s performances?
Some viral posts claim Jackson earned money every time Eminem performed live.
However, available records only confirm that Sony/ATV acquired certain publishing rights related to some Eminem songs. The exact royalty structures tied to performances were never publicly confirmed.
As a result, the claim cannot be fully verified.
The Bottom Line
The rumor is based partly on real events but exaggerates and distorts key details.
Eminem’s “Just Lose It” did appear to mock Michael Jackson, and a company linked to Jackson later acquired publishing rights connected to some Eminem songs.
However:
- Jackson did not stay silent
- He did not personally buy Eminem’s full catalog
- There is no evidence the deal was revenge
Because the claim mixes accurate details with misleading conclusions, Clarifact rates it as a Mixture.
Sources:
- Burkeman, Oliver. “Michael Jackson Threatens to Sue over Mocking Video by Eminem.” The Guardian, 13 Oct. 2004. The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/oct/14/usa.michaeljacksontrial.
- Crumlish, Callum. “Michael Jackson Hair and Face Caught Fire in Horrifying Accident.” Express.Co.Uk, 26 Jan. 2021, https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/music/1389401/michael-jackson-third-degree-burns-pepsi-commercial-compensation-settlement-bald.
- Eminem – Just Lose It. genius.com, https://genius.com/Eminem-just-lose-it-lyrics. Accessed 14 Feb. 2024.
- Leeds, Jeff. “Viacom to Sell Music Publishing Unit to Sony/ATV.” The New York Times, 31 May 2007. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/31/business/31music.html.
- Mikkelson, David. “Did Michael Jackson Own the Rights to All Beatles Songs?” Snopes, 7 May 2001, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/michael-jackson-beatles-songs/.
- Sisario, Ben. “Sony Reaches Blockbuster Deal for Michael Jackson’s Catalog.” The New York Times, 9 Feb. 2024. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/09/arts/music/michael-jackson-catalog-sale-sony.html.
- “Sony Buys out Michael Jackson Music Venture Stake.” BBC News, 15 Mar. 2016. www.bbc.com, https://www.bbc.com/news/business-35809196.
- Sony/ATV Music Publishing Completes Acquisition of Famous Music LLC from Viacom. https://www.sony.com/content/sony/en/en_us/SCA/company-news/press-releases/sony-corporation-of-america/2007/sonyatv-music-publishing-completes-acquisition-of-famous-music-llc-from-viacom.html. Accessed 14 Feb. 2024.
