Critics are calling Eminem’s promotional popcorn bucket for ‘Stans’ documentary “messed up”

A popcorn bucket promoting Eminem’s new documentary Stans has been branded “messed up” by critics.

• READ MORE: Eminem – ‘The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce)’ review: well-crafted songs and empty provocation

The bucket, which is designed to look like a pill bottle, features the fictional character’s name in the 2000 track ‘Stan’, along with the words “TAKE TO GET OUT OF BED” and “REMEMBER THAT IT’S NOT SO BAD”, a nod to lyrics from the hit.

In the song, which featured Dido, Eminem raps from the point of view of a delusional fan who thinks he shares a parasocial relationship with the rapper.

Similarly to a bottle of pills the top also says “push and twist”. While some fans praised the design others criticised the bucket with one branding the idea “very stupid” while another said: “Eminem is so cringe and so is this gimmick. If you buy this it means you support corporations pushing pills on people.”

A third added: “I don’t think this promotes a good message to the youth they should be ashamed.”

Very stupid

— Anointed (@PPaijuk) August 10, 2025

Eminem is so cringe and so is this gimmick.

If you buy this it means you support corporations pushing pills on people.

— 80s Groyper (@80sGroyper) August 10, 2025

don’t think this promotes a good message to the youth they should be ashamed

— Seppi (@SeppiWorld) August 10, 2025

Thats a bit too much, its supposed to be a container for food, while wayching a movie, not thinking you’re medicating yourself…

— Nocturn13 (@NightSwordsman) August 10, 2025

That’s messed up

— Azalea (@xtrasupa) August 10, 2025

Eminem has spoken openly about his battle with prescription drug addiction in the past. In 2022, he penned a lengthy reflective essay on his struggles.

He was hospitalised in December 2007 following a methadone overdose, with doctors telling him he had ingested the equivalent of four bags of heroin. He got sober the following year.

He previously marked 12 years of sobriety in 2020.

Stans was shown in select theatres over the last week. The first trailer for the documentary was shared last month with a synopsis, which read: “In the song, the titular character handwrites a series of emotional letters to Eminem, repeating the line: ‘I’m just like you’. That refrain serves as a guiding light for this unconventional and fully authorised feature, which follows a highly curated cast of real-life stans whose deep personal connections to Eminem mirror some of the themes found throughout his lyrics.”

It continued: “More than just an exploration of fandom, the film examines the complicated relationship between one of the world’s most private artists and his massive public persona. Through stylised recreations, rare archival footage, intimate interviews, and an exclusive original interview with Eminem himself, it offers a raw, loud, and revealing journey across his career – and the passionate audience that has grown with him.”

The film, which is co-produced by Eminem, had its premiere at SXSW London earlier this year, and those who took part in the project were fans who responded to a survey distributed by his team last year.

Elsewhere, Jo Whiley recently recalled an interview with Eminem and Dr. Dre that made her “feel so tiny and so stupid

His last album, ‘The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce)’ was given a three-star review from NME upon its release last summer, which read: “Much more powerful is ‘Temporary’, a genuinely moving ode to his daughter, Hailie, which proves Marshall Mathers can say something that matters when he wants to.

“So, who killed Slim Shady? In bringing him back to the light and showing him up as irrelevant, perhaps Eminem’s done his old pal in for good. OK, we get it – Shady was a shocking character. Now that he’s dead, how about getting some new material?”

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