"Love the Way You Lie" is a song by American rapperEminem featuring Barbadian singerRihanna from Eminem's seventh studio albumRecovery (2010).Skylar Grey wrote and recorded ademo of the song alongside producerAlex da Kid. Eminem wrote the verses and chose Rihanna to sing the chorus, resulting in a collaboration influenced by their past experiences in difficult relationships. Recording sessions were held inFerndale, Michigan, andDublin,Ireland. Backed by guitar, piano and violin, the track is amidtempo hip-hopballad with apop refrain, sung by Rihanna, and describes two lovers who refuse to separate despite being in anabusive relationship.
Interscope Records released the song in June 2010 as the second single fromRecovery. Critics praised its melody but were divided on its thematic aspects such as poignancy and accuracy. Eminem promoted the single with performances at the2010 Electronic Entertainment Expo, theMTV Video Music Awards andfestivals. The music video, directed byJoseph Kahn, starsDominic Monaghan andMegan Fox as lovers in a violent relationship and shows Eminem and Rihanna in front of a burning house. The video met with a mixed reception due to scenes ofdomestic violence. Reporters suggested that the song and its accompanying video were influenced by Eminem's and Rihanna's abusive relationships with their respective ex-lovers, Kim Scott andChris Brown.
Critics listed "Love the Way You Lie" among the best tracks of 2010 and of Eminem's career. The song won many awards and received fiveGrammy nominations. It is Eminem's best-selling single and ranked number one on severalrecord charts, including the US Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks. The single sold over 12 million copies in the US and 1.5 million in the UK. Musical acts such asCher Lloyd andthe Band Perry have performedcover versions. Rihanna has said that the theme of domestic violence, a topic on which she claims many people do not have insight, is what makes the song impactful. She later recorded with him again on "Love the Way You Lie (Part II)", narrated mostly from her perspective. "Love the Way You Lie" peaked at number one in 22 countries.
Rihanna's approval of the song's topic ultimately influenced her decision to work with Eminem.
The development of "Love the Way You Lie" began with the backing track andhook melody, which was created by Britishhip hop producerAlex da Kid.[2] When making a track, he explained that he spends hours makingloops and produces an electronic drum rhythm before adding live instrumentation. The drums aresampled from live recordings he saved.[3] Alex da Kid recorded anacoustic guitar for the verses with aNeumann U 87 microphone and an Avid Mbox audio interface. He toldSound on Sound magazine that this song had given him an opportunity to reintroduce live guitar in hip hop music.[3] During the session, he usedWaves RVerb and REQ equalization on his mainkick track and a MaxxBass plug-in on two others.[2]
Writing began in late 2009, when singerSkylar Grey resided at the Artula Retreat inBandon, Oregon,[4] and wrote songs.[5] Later, inNew York City, she visited herUniversal Music publisher,Jennifer Blakeman, to seek help presenting her work;[5][6] Blakeman suggested she collaborate with Alex da Kid.[5] The producer emailed Grey his track, which suggested a theme of abusive romantic relationships to her as she spontaneously sang lyrics to the melody.[7] She told theLos Angeles Times that she was in an abusive relationship with the music industry: "I love it so much, and I give it all that I have, yet it beats me down."[8] This idea inspired her writing,[8] a process she found came naturally, as if she were creating analternative pop song for herself.[9] She wrote thechorus to "Love the Way You Lie" in fifteen minutes and recorded vocals for Alex da Kid'sdemo.[5][10]
In early 2010, Alex da Kid offeredShady Records senior directorRigo Morales some backing tracks.[11] Morales enjoyed the tracks and sent them toEminem, who was seeking a different musical approach for his next album.[11] Impressed with Alex da Kid's work, Eminem asked for more tracks and subsequently heard "Love the Way You Lie". He chose it and told his managerPaul Rosenberg he wanted to collaborate with the Barbadian singerRihanna.[11] Eminem toldSkyrock, "It's one of those tracks that I felt like only she could pull it off."[12] Rosenberg sent the track to Rihanna, who accepted Eminem's request "at the last moment."[11] Eminem wrote the rapped verses to the song.[10]
Rihanna has also said she joined the collaboration because she could relate to the theme of the song, as she and Eminem had been in difficult relationships on "different ends of the table".[13] Eminem had released the songs "'97 Bonnie & Clyde" (1998) and "Kim" (2000), in which he fantasizes, respectively, about murdering and verbally abusing his then-wife Kim Scott.[14] They had divorced in 2001 and again in 2006 after a remarriage.[15] In February 2009, Rihanna's relationship with the R&B singerChris Brown had ended following his felony assault on her.[16] Rihanna described "Love the Way You Lie" as unique, realistic and deep, saying that it "broke down the cycle of domestic violence" because few people had insight on the topic.[13][17][18]
Mike Strange recorded andmixed Eminem's vocals at Effigy Studios inFerndale, Michigan.[19] The sessions took two days.[20] Strange edited the vocals with D-Verb—areverberation software—and an Extra Long Delay plug-in. He preferred to make few changes; for "Love the Way You Lie" he almost exclusively used boardcompression and consoleequalization. Strange used the Bricasti and Eventide Reverb 2016 mixing tools for "brighter" reverberation. Detroit musicianLuis Resto has contributed to the arrangement on many of Eminem's songs, but did not do so for "Love the Way You Lie". According to Strange, "Everything we needed was already in the track, apart from the vocals."[2] Two to three weeks after the sessions, Alex da Kid arrived to help mix andmaster the track.[11] He wanted to replace the acoustic guitar on the demo, but Eminem chose to keep it.[3] Strange said, "It was simply a matter of trying to match and then to improve on the demo [Alex da Kid]'d sent us."[2] Strange's brother Joeengineered the track.[19]
Rihanna's recording sessions took place at Sun Studios in Dublin, Ireland, and were engineered by Marcos Tovar. The R&B songwriterMakeba Riddick provided additional vocal production.[19] Strange used equalization, compression and reverberation but left the vocal balance. He assumed that Rihanna was satisfied with her recorded vocals and did not make major changes on her seven stereo vocal tracks.[2]
A 26-second song sample. Backed by an electric guitar and a piano,[3][21] Rihanna sings the second half of the chorus in a sad voice withoutvibrato.[22] Eminem begins the second verse over an acoustic guitar, violin and drums, expressing frustration in his voice.[3][23][24]
Just gonna stand there and watch me burn? Well, that's alright because I like the way it hurts. Just gonna stand there and hear me cry?
Well, that's alright because I love the way you lie.[27] I love the way you lie.
The refrain is based on a Gm–E♭(add2)–B♭–F/Achord progression.[28] Fraser McAlpine of theBBC wrote that Rihanna feels confined "in a cell of [her] own creation".[27] She sings withoutvibrato,[22] a pulsating musical effect used to add expression.[29] One commentator,The New York Times' David Brownie, wrote that despite this, her voice subtly shows grief and regret.[22] Eminem then "zap[s] out into a ballady rap":[21] "I can't tell you what it really is/ I can only tell you what it feels like."[24] The verses follow a Gm–E♭(add2)B♭–Fsus/A chord progression.[28] Eminem regrets an end to an abusive, failed relationship, describing mutual violence and expressing both fondness and anger.[30][31] The two artists' characters are portrayed in a romantic relationship when he responds to Rihanna by concluding the verse: "I laid hands on her. I'll never stoop so low again/ I guess I don't know my own strength."[27] Rihanna sings the chorus again, backed by anelectric guitar and a piano.[3][21]
Acoustic guitar, violin and drums accompany Eminem's verses.[3][23] The lyrics transition from discussing positive aspects of love to describing violent events.[31] Eminem raps, "It's the rage that took over, it controls you both, so they say it's best to go your separate ways. Guess that they don't know ya, cause today that was yesterday."[32]Sady Doyle ofThe Atlantic interpreted these lyrics as the rapper's confession to having abused Scott, as he "turns the anger and accusations toward himself".[32] In the second verse, Eminem accepts the outcome after feeling sorry, admitting, "Yesterday is over, it's a different day."[30] His frustration increases and he raps that two personalities can clash and devastate: "maybe that's what happens when a tornado meets a volcano".[24][27] The describedlove–hate relationship worsens and leads todomestic violence.[33] Eminem admits to lying about promises he makes and says late in the song,[31] "If she ever tries to fuckin' leave again, I'ma tie her to the bed and set this house on fire",[34] a reference to Rihanna's lyrics.[31] Ironically, Eminem writes about Chris Brown's 2009 abuse, rapping "Spewing venom in your words when you spit 'em, You push, pull each other's hair, scratch, claw, bit 'em".
On May 27, 2010, Eminem revealed the title of "Love the Way You Lie" as part of the track list of his seventh studio albumRecovery,[35] which came out on June 21.[36] Initially a radio single,[37] the song was released later byPolydor Records as aCD in the United Kingdom on August 9, 2010.[1]Interscope Records distributed it in Germany on August 20.[38]
"Love the Way You Lie" received generally favorable reviews. An editor forRap-Up listed it among the four best tracks from the album.[39]New York Times writer Jon Caramanica considered it "one of the album's most engaging songs" and praised Eminem's ability to assess issues from the perspectives of both sexes.[40] MTV's Rodriguez wrote that the song echoes content from Eminem's earlier albums, but finds him "sober" and "more mature".[41] He added that the lyrics allude to Eminem's relationship with Scott and that "Love the Way You Lie" is his closest approach to a love song.[30] Editors ofThe A.V. Club compared the single with "Kim" and"'97 Bonnie & Clyde"; they found he is more tempered in "Love the Way You Lie" when discussing a "mutually destructive relationship" and that Rihanna's involvement creates an eerie mood.[42]
Critics especially praised Rihanna's contribution. Michael Menachem ofBillboard complimented her "exquisitely melodic and surprisingly hopeful" vocal performance and "Eminem's dark, introspective" rapping.[25] He noted that the percussion complements both artists and that Alex da Kid gave the classical arrangement a mainstream touch.[25] Kyle Anderson, writing for MTV, remarked that the song showcases Rihanna's emotional vocals and Eminem's "most intense rhymes about his tumultuous relationships".[43] He regarded "Love the Way You Lie" as an honest, "well-constructed pop song with a killer hook" and likened the "slow-burning" music to that of "Someone like You", a 2011 single by the British singerAdele.[43][44] TheHouston Chronicle pop critic Joey Guerra commented that Rihanna brought a "sandpaper and silk sheen" to the track.[45]
Many critics believed the song was about Rihanna's past relationship withChris Brown.
Critics have commented on the message in the lyrics. Anderson noted a dark theme,[43] while Nick Levine ofDigital Spy, Allie Townsend ofTime magazine and Jocelyn Noveck of theAssociated Press suggested the previous relationships of both artists influenced the song.[31][46][47] Levine gave it four stars out of five.[46] According to Eric Hayden ofThe Atlantic Wire, the song refers to an alcoholic couple, possibly inspired by Rihanna's relationship with Brown.[48] McAlphine awarded "Love the Way You Lie" four stars out of five.[27] According to him, the song would not have been effective if it had featured only Eminem's point of view and feelings of regret; he wrote that Rihanna's representing the opposite side of the relationship shows "proper storytelling" and "sends a message" because of her breakup with Brown.[27] McAlphine wrote that as a result the song depicts a more realistic abusive relationship and could be featured in a campaign forwomen's shelters. He praised Eminem's accuracy and understanding of the topic.[27] Winston Robbins fromConsequence of Sound attributed the song's poignancy to Rihanna's past abusive relationship, and a theme of infidelity and abuse.[49]
On the critical side,The Daily Telegraph's Jenny McCartney dismissed the metaphors in the chorus and thought the song's topic was over-hyped.[50] She disagreed with the critical praise, arguing that women accept abusive relationships for deeper reasons than sexual and emotional pleasure, such as family and financial issues and helplessness.[50] In anNPR article, the writerMaura Johnston commented that the lyrics portray Rihanna as the subject of Eminem's violence.[51]Jay Smooth, a New York radio personality, responded that "while Eminem explores the psyche of the abuser with an almost disturbing amount of depth and detail," Rihanna's perspective is downplayed and not explained fully.[51] Johnston and Smooth wrote that such imbalances are a prevalent issue inpopular music duets.[51] To Sady Doyle, although "Love the Way You Lie" is one of Eminem's most affecting tracks and finds him remorseful, it does not make up for his pastmisogynistic actions and hateful songs.[32] Jocelyn Noveck questioned whether the lyrics are "a treatise against (or apology for) domestic violence, or an irresponsible glorification of it? Or, is it something uncomfortable in between?"[31]
Marjorie Gilberg, executive director of the anti-teenage violence group Break the Cycle, commented that "Love the Way You Lie" can teach listeners about the dangers of abusive relationships if interpreted correctly. She believed that because popular culture often depicts what is socially acceptable, people may accept such violence more easily. She added, "One problem, though, ... is that the song reflects myths about domestic violence—myths that lead toblaming the victim."[31] Gilberg alleged the victim is often accused of being as guilty as the partner but wants to be loved, not abused.Terry O'Neill, a feminist and the president of theNational Organization for Women, criticized the lyric, "But your temper's just as bad as mine is / You're the same as me", saying it is a typical excuse used by abusive men for aggression and that "it's only 2-year-olds and violent men who use violence to get what they want."[31] She added that Rihanna unintentionally glorifies domestic violence in the song despite attempting to fight it.[31]
"Love the Way You Lie" ranked in various best-of-2010 lists. Claire Suddath ofTime placed it at number five on her top 10 list and wrote, "That this song didn't come across sounding clichéd or tasteless is a testament to both artists' skill."[24]AOL Radio considered the song the best of 2010 hip hop music, regarding Eminem as imaginative and passionate.[52] It ranked ninth on MTV News' top 25 list.[53] Its editor James Montgomery attributed the song's success to its theme and relation to the artists' past abusive relationships.[53] He concluded, "You cannot write a song any better than that, because that's how this kind of thing happens in real life."[53] TheNew York Post placed the song at second place on their "top 210 songs from 2010" list and regarded it as a "comeback club anthem."[54] In April 2011, Gabriel Alvarez ofComplex magazine ranked it at number 100 on their "100 Best Eminem Songs" list, calling it a love song and praising Rihanna's vocals as beautiful.[55] "Love the Way You Lie" and its accompanying music video were nominated for fiveGrammy Awards at the2011 ceremony, including "Record of the Year", "Song of the Year" and "Best Short Form Music Video".[56] It won thePeople's Choice Awards for "Favorite Music Video" and "Favorite Song".[57]
"Love the Way You Lie" reached number one on severalrecord charts worldwide.[58] It entered the USBillboard Hot 100 at number two in the issue dated July 10, 2010.[59] The single debuted at number one on the USDigital Songs after selling 338,000 digital copies in its first week.[37] From July 31 to September 11, 2010, it had a seven-week run at the top of the Hot 100,[60] giving Eminem his fourth, and Rihanna her seventh, number-one US hit.[61] The single sold more than 300,000 digital copies in the week of August 14, 2010, rising to number two on the Pop Songs andRadio Songs charts.[62] In theBillboard issue for August 21, 2010,Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems recognized the single with the BDS Certified Award for 50,000 radiospins.[63] It topped the Pop Songs chart in the same issue,[64] giving Eminem his third number-one track on the chart and Rihanna her sixth.[65] "Love the Way You Lie" was the first number-one hit (for 10 years) on theRap Songs chart with Eminem as the lead artist since his 2000 single "The Real Slim Shady".[66] With sales of 4,245,000 copies, "Love the Way You Lie" was the third best-selling single of 2010 in the United States.[67] There, it sold 6 million copies by October 2013 and 6.5 million copies by October 2015.[68][69]
The song entered theAustralian Singles Chart on July 4, 2010, at number 14.[58] It rose to the top three weeks later, occupying the position for six weeks and staying on the chart for 38 weeks in total.[58] In Austria, "Love the Way You Lie" debuted at number 31, on July 2, 2010, and ascended to number one on September 4.[70] After making a final consecutive appearance on March 4, 2011, it reappeared at number 75 on August 26. The song spent 47 weeks on the chart.[70] It was South Korea's third best-selling song in 2010 by a foreign artist, with 1,200,653 downloads.[71]
On theUK Singles Chart, the song debuted at number seven on June 27, 2010, and peaked at number two four weeks later.[72][73] By the end of 2010, "Love the Way You Lie" had sold 854,000 copies in the UK, making it the country'sbiggest-selling song of the year.[74] It is the only song to top the year-end chart without topping the weekly charts. In October 2011, it became the 109th song to reach 1 million sales there.[75] By November 2012, the single had sold 1.05 million copies in the UK, placing at number 100 on theOfficial Charts Company's "The Million Sellers" list.[76] As of June 2015, it is the17th best-selling single of the 2010s in the UK.[77] According to theInternational Federation of the Phonographic Industry, "Love the Way You Lie" sold 9.3 million copies worldwide in 2010.[78] In December 2011, it was certified as Eminem's best-selling single.[79]
Megan Fox helped the video have a strong impact, according to the directorJoseph Kahn.
The music video for "Love the Way You Lie" was Eminem's third to be directed by filmmakerJoseph Kahn.[80] Despite having planned to shoot afeature film and stop directing pop videos, Kahn chose to work on "Love the Way You Lie" because, according to him, the song discusses an important topic.[81] This was an opportunity for him to direct a video for Eminem without the comedic themes of their previous collaborations.[82] For the video, Kahn consideredThe Lord of the Rings actorDominic Monaghan as a co-star for his versatility, which he thought would help him play an antagonist.[83] Kahn cast the Hollywood actressMegan Fox, which he had presumed would be almost impossible because of her popularity with directors.[82] Fox, a fan of Eminem, accepted the role without hesitation.[82]
Rosenberg gave Kahn one day to write atreatment, which Kahn finished in 45 minutes.[82] He filmed Eminem's and Rihanna's parts on July 20, 2010;[84] scenes with Fox and Monaghan were shot three days later.[85] By July 24, 2010, they finished the shoot.[86] Kahn confirmed the completion of thedirector's cut the next day.[84] He said Fox's involvement made the video powerful,[82] commenting forVibe:
We wanted to make a specific story about two people—Meg and Dom—not a video that was representative of all couples or all domestic violence situations. I'm not saying that all couples fight this way. I just want people just to be able to identify with the characters and recognize that they've seen relationships like this where two people are together that are completely wrong for each other and things spiral out of control.... Megan was the key to this video.... I'll tell you as a director the reason why [Fox and Monaghan's] scenes in the video feel so real is because in the moment they were real.[82]
Monaghan told MTV he thought the couple represents Eminem and Scott.[18] The clip was produced by Kathy Angstadt andMaryAnn Tanedo of HSI Productions.[87] Shortly before its release, Eminem reported in a press statement: "Joseph and I worked pretty closely together to make sure we got this right".[88] He said the difficult topic resulted in a powerful video because of the contributions of Rihanna, Fox and Monaghan.[88] Fox donated her appearance fee to the Sojourn House, a battered women's shelter.[89] On August 5, 2010, the video premiered on MTV and the music video websiteVevo (which is half-owned by Sony Music).[84][90]
Eminem and Rihanna stand in front of a burning house in the video.
Rihanna sings the hook in front of a burning house, while an interspersing scene shows fire on a woman's (Fox) palms. In another scene, the woman is asleep with her lover (Monaghan) and wakes up. As Eminem begins to rap in an open field, the woman attacks her lover after seeing the name "Cindy" and a phone number written on his hand.[91] He unsuccessfully tries to kiss the woman and brings her back after she attempts to leave him. The man then pushes her onto the wall and aims his fist at her, puncturing the wall instead. After Rihanna sings again, the videoflashes back to when the couple first meet "at a seedy dive bar next door" to a liquor store.[85][91] The man steals a bottle ofvodka and they kiss on the rooftop.
During the present, the man apologizes to his lover and they are reconciled. In another flashback, he attacks someone who playspool with his lover.[91] At night, Eminem joins Rihanna in front of the burning house for the last verse. Meanwhile, after the flashback, the woman comes home and locks herself in the bathroom to stop her abusive lover from entering. In another scene, the fire on her palms vanishes as she claps her hands. Flames later engulf Eminem and the couple,[92] who are then shown fighting in front of the burning house. In the end, the couple stays together and the video returns to their first scene, in which they sleep.[91][93]
"It's the story of them getting to know each other, and it's the story of their tumultuous relationship, and it was the story of the breakdown of their relationship. Ultimately, what I think [Eminem]'s trying to say in the song ... is that he should have walked away a little bit quicker than he did and not let it get as messy as it did."
—Monaghan's interpretation of "Love the Way You Lie"[94]
The video broke what was aYouTube record at the time of its release for the most views in one day, with 6.6 million.[95] It had a mixed reception from critics, most of whom commented on scenes of domestic violence.[96] NPR's Zoe Chace deemed the video as upsetting,[97] whileAOL Music listed it at number five on their list of the "Top 10 Most Controversial Music Videos in Pop".[96] Stephanie Nilva—the executive director of trauma resource center Day One—told MTV News that it mainly raises "the topic of dating violence among young people".[94] Nilva praised the video’s accurate depiction of patterns in an abusive relationship and thought the video's potency came from Eminem's history of violence-themed songs and Brown's assault on Rihanna.[94]
A writer forRap-Up considered the video realistic, as "art imitates life".[98] Conor Friedersdorf ofThe Atlantic called it an inaccurate portrayal of domestic violence due to insufficient violence, as evidenced by the lack of injuries after punching through a wall.[99] Mariel Concepcion ofBillboard suggested the video was inspired by the lyric,[90] "Just gonna stand there and watch me burn, but that's alright because I like the way it hurts."[34] Rihanna's appearance was criticized. Writing forRolling Stone magazine, Daniel Kreps called it "especially striking" and noted her relationship with Brown.[100] An editor fromThe Boston Globe commented that although the video is realistic, it hinders Rihanna's ability to set an example for women in abusive relationships.[93] Billy Johnson Jr. fromYahoo! Music wrote that Fox's character alternated between vulnerable and confrontational personalities, while Monaghan's character is similar to Eminem.[101] Kahn, who understood why viewers thought Eminem's and Rihanna's relationships influenced the video, asked that they realize this is untrue. He said the team had been conscious of such personal matters and Fox's and Monaghan's characters are only significant to each other.[102]
Reviewers discussed the acting. Peter Gicas ofE! News noted that Fox and Monaghan portray "combustible behavior the tune is hellbent on describing."[103]The New York Post's Jarett Wieselman wrote that they play their roles perfectly and help make the video powerful.[104]Entertainment Weekly's Whitney Pastorek found the violent acting sexually appealing,[105] while Willa Paskin ofNew York magazine wrote that the cast's appeal "hypnotize[s]" viewers.[106] Paskin noted the use ofsepia toning in the burning-house scenes.[106] Matthew Wilkening of AOL Radio commented that the video leaves viewers to decide "if it's a good thing or a bad thing that the pair always end up reconciling."[107] Mikey Fresh ofVibe commented that Fox's natural reaction when Monaghan pierces the wall and almost hits her is an "incredible act of vulnerability".[82]L Magazine's Benjamin Sutton likened the scene in which the characters burn to theMarvel Comics characterChris Bradley, whom Monaghan portrays in the 2009 action filmX-Men Origins: Wolverine.[108] As of September 2025, the video is one of YouTube's 50 most viewed videos[109] as well as its most viewed rap song, with more than 3 billion views.[110]
Eminem has promoted "Love the Way You Lie" at concerts. On June 15, 2010, he and Rihanna performed the song at Los Angeles'Electronic Entertainment Expo 2010, accompanied by the drummerTravis Barker andD12'sMr. Porter.[111] Eminem sang "Love the Way You Lie" at the Scottish festivalT in the Park on July 10, 2010, dedicating it to "everybody who'[d] been in a fucked-up relationship."[112] He then performed the song at Ireland's annualOxegen festival on July 11, 2010.[113] James Hendicott fromState wrote that the rapper's personality "fill[ed] the stage" and that his vocals were sharp and packed "plenty of punch".[114] He criticized the use of a pre-recorded backing track and noted the lack of live music and female vocals.[114] Eamon Sweeney from theIrish Independent called Eminem's performance only "mildly impressive".[115]
On July 21, 2010, the rapper joined Rihanna on herLast Girl on Earth tour to perform in Los Angeles.[116] He then performed at the2010 MTV Video Music Awards and was voted the best performer of the ceremony in an MTV poll, earning 34 percent of votes.[117][118] Rihanna made a surprise appearance despite having said she could not perform because of her schedule.[119] Suddath ofTime called their duet dull.[120] Eminem sang "Love the Way You Lie" without Rihanna at the 2011Bonnaroo Music Festival for almost 80,000 people.[121][122] According to MTV News' Montgomery, the "sheer tenacity with which he attacked" was his strength.[121] Patrick Doyle ofRolling Stone felt Eminem delivered a triumphal act by "constantly bouncing across the stage" and singing energetically.[123]
Eminem performed "Love the Way You Lie" on the second day of Chicago's annualLollapalooza festival on August 6, 2011.[124] Members of the audience sang the chorus to compensate for Rihanna's absence.[125] Piet Levy ofUSA Today named the show a "tragic stunner",[124] while Katie Hasty ofHitFix added that it displayed competition between the sexes.[126] Eminem and Rihanna performed inStaffordshire on the first day of V2011 (V Festival), on August 20, 2011.[127] James Lachno ofThe Daily Telegraph considered it an "affecting" rendition.[128]The Guardian called their performance thrilling and an editor for the British newspaperMetro felt that it was the best part of the evening.[129][130] Eminem closed the festival on the night of August 21 inChelmsford,Essex, for an audience of 120,000.[131] A reporter for theInternational Business Times thought that Eminem's duet with Rihanna was the highlight of the show.[132]
Rihanna performing "Love the Way You Lie (Part II)" on theLoud Tour (2011) in Birmingham, England
On November 3, 2010, an alternative version titled "Love the Way You Lie (Part II)" leaked onto the Internet.[140] Rihanna is the lead vocalist and Eminem is a featured guest. The song mainly views matters from Rihanna's perspective and is based on Grey's demo.[8][141] Rihanna agreed to record a sequel despite initially thinking "the original couldn't be beaten".[142] She said that the sequel involved less production, with only piano and drums.[142] It is the eleventh and final track on her 2010 studio albumLoud.[143] Grey's version appears on her 2012extended playThe Buried Sessions of Skylar Grey and her 2013 studio albumDon't Look Down as "Love the Way You Lie (Part III)".[144][145]
Rihanna performed a short medley that comprised "Love the Way You Lie (Part II)", "What's My Name?" and "Only Girl (In the World)" at theAmerican Music Awards of 2010.[146] Another medley, consisting of "Love the Way You Lie (Part II)" and "I Need a Doctor", was performed at the 2011 Grammy Awards.[147] While theChicago Sun-Times considered the track an unnecessary sequel,[148] the BBC reviewer James Skinner wrote,"'Love the Way You Lie (Part II)' even bests the original, Eminem's verse exuding the kind of volatile, simmering menace that got everyone so excited about him in the first place. But it is Rihanna's vocal—at once commanding, soulful and vulnerable—that anchors the song".[149]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
^Herrera, Monica (August 21, 2010). Smith, Danyel (ed.). "Alex Da Kid: The British Songwriter/Producer Behind Two Of The Smashes Of The Season Details His Path To Success".Billboard. Vol. 122, no. 33. p. 18.ISSN0006-2510.
^abRecovery (Media notes). Eminem. Santa Monica: Interscope Records. 2010. p. 14. 2739452.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Alvarez, Gabriel (April 26, 2011)."The 100 Best Eminem Songs".Complex. p. 1.Archived from the original on November 27, 2011. RetrievedOctober 4, 2011.
^2010년 디지털 종합 [2010 Digital Chart].Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived fromthe original on August 9, 2011.Note: To see sales info, click the 다운로드 tab and then select 외국 for foreign sales numbers. Retrieved March 21, 2011.
^Love the Way You Lie (US CD Single liner notes). Eminem. Santa Monica: Interscope Records. 2010. 1757538.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic.Note: Select 42. týden 2010 in the date selector. Retrieved August 3, 2011.
^"Media Forest – Weekly Charts".Media Forest. 18 October 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2018.Note: Romanian and international positions are rendered together by the number of plays before resulting an overall chart.
^"Media Forest – Weekly Charts".Media Forest. 25 October 2010. Retrieved 3 July 2018.Note: Select 'Songs – TV'. Romanian and international positions are rendered together by the number of plays before resulting an overall chart.
