Eminem finally performs 'Lose Yourself' at the Oscars, surprising (and confusing) fans

Sara M Moniuszko | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Oscars 2020: Best reactions from the stars in the audience Steve Martin and Chris Rock's monologue, Eminem's performance and Parasite's big win led to memorable celebrity reactions inside this year's Oscars.

Eminem? At the Oscars? In 2020? Yep, that happened.

The rapper, 47, surprised by turning up at the awards show at Los Angeles' Dolby Theatre on Sunday to perform his track "Lose Yourself" – earning a slew of reactions from celebs in the audience and fans watching at home.

The 2002 track was featured in the film "8 Mile" and won an Oscar for best original song the following year. Eminem skipped the awards show and missed out on performing it at the time.

On Twitter, he partially quoted the lyrics of the song following the head-turning performance that left some fans wondering why he was on the Oscars stage.

"Look, if you had another shot, another opportunity... Thanks for having me @TheAcademy. Sorry it took me 18 years to get here," he tweeted with a video clip of Barbra Streisand presenting the award years ago.

Look, if you had another shot, another opportunity... Thanks for having me @TheAcademy. Sorry it took me 18 years to get here. pic.twitter.com/CmSw2hmcZo — Marshall Mathers (@Eminem) February 10, 2020

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Oscars producer Lynette Howell Taylor told USA TODAY the idea to have Eminem perform "Lose Yourself" 17 years after he won best original song came because "we made a show that was about impact and we wanted to do a segment on the impact of music. And we reached out to see if that was something he wanted to be involved in and we were just really lucky he said yes."

But his performance wasn't all smooth sailing. His audio seemed spotty and Howell Taylor was on it: "Where's his mic?" she worried as he began the performance. “It’s there,” an aide assured her. And as Eminem wrapped up, the producers cheered. “We (expletive) did it!” Howell Taylor yelled. "Best kept secret!"

Even Lin Manuel Miranda, who introduced the rapper's performance, came back into the wings and thanked the producers.

“Thanks for letting me hang and have the best seat in the house,” he told them.

Twitter was quick to react to the performance, including sharing reactions captured in the star-studded crowd.

"And the Oscar for best cinematography goes to the camera man who hit this shot during Eminem’s performance," user @Ruthless__Ruby tweeted along with an image of Martin Scorsese's less-than-enthused reaction to the performance.

And the Oscar for best cinematography goes to the camera man who hit this shot during Eminem’s performance #Oscars pic.twitter.com/gfZjfX0fDH — Ruthless Ruby (@Ruthless__Ruby) February 10, 2020

Idina Menzel also seemed a bit confused.

"Framing this photo of a confused Idina Menzel watching Eminem perform at the #Oscars in 2020," user @evanrosskatz tweeted with a photo.

Framing this photo of a confused Idina Menzel watching Eminem perform at the #Oscars in 2020. pic.twitter.com/mlTVAhEfkj — Ξvan Ross Katz (@evanrosskatz) February 10, 2020

"Star Wars" star Kelly Marie Tran had a more positive reaction, and a fan account, @tranloan, shared a GIF of her rapping along to the lyrics.

Kelly Marie Tran rapping along to Eminem's "Lose Yourself" at the #Oscars #Oscars2020 pic.twitter.com/fZmWYsqEkX — Daily Kelly Marie Tran (@tranIoan) February 10, 2020

Other social media users shared their shock at seeing Eminem perform Sunday.

"Elton John and Eminem on the same award show, wow I died and woke up twenty years ago," user @PaulCantor tweeted.

"Was not expecting Eminem at the #Oscar2020," user @GGerson16 tweeted.

"I still wanna know. Does anyone know who invited Eminem," user @Nick___lyo tweeted.

Some focused on the performance itself, including Ricky Martin.

"Standing ovation @Eminem," he tweeted with clapping emojis.

Contributing: Andrea Mandell

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