Eminem Has Change of Heart, Supports Gay Marriage

A decade ago, Eminem was blasted by gay rights groups for using homophobic lyrics in his songs.

But at 37, the rapper, real name Marshall Mathers, says his "new, tolerant" self supports gay marriage.

"I think if two people love each other, then what the hell?" he said in a recent interview with The New York Times. But that's not to say that the The Real Slim Shady has gone soft.

"I think that everyone should have the chance to be equally miserable, if they want," he said.

The comments come at a particularly fitting time, as California wraps up its contentious Proposition 8 trial, which will decide the fate of the state's gay marriage ban. Meanwhile, Eminem's new album, "Recovery," hits stores next week.

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, who is openly gay, was shocked at the rapper's turnaround.

"Now, if the last person you would ever think in the world is for gay marriage, we can't possibly see what is holding up the rest of the country!" he wrote today.

Eminem says his new album, "Recovery," doesn't have the kind of language about women that got him in trouble earlier in his career either. "My overall look on things is a lot more mature than it used to be," he said.