Eminem says he has addressed the accusations of homophobia levelled at him by performing with Elton John at the Grammy Awards ceremony .
But he claims he did not know Elton is gay when the idea for the duet was first suggested to him.
He says the performance was the only proper way to address the criticisms made against him by such groups as The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
"If I didn't make a statement with Elton John tonight, I don't know what else to do," Eminem told MTV News, following the pair's performance of the rapper's song, Stan. "I came to make an impact, I came to make a statement, and I guess to piss some people off.