Synopsis

Presented like a warped silent-film stunt, Eminem attempts a Houdini-style escape while bound and submerged in a tank. The performance then shifts into a series of grotesque comedy sketches, including Eminem as a priest, police officer, disturbed killer and cartoon superhero. Live-performance footage is mixed into the chaos, while visual jokes reference the O.J. Simpson case and Foghorn Leghorn. The recurring escape setup returns at the end, turning the song's deliberately irresponsible message into a dark punchline.

Factoids & Trivia

• The music video uses the heavily censored radio edit, although the imagery remains deliberately provocative.
• Its silent-film opening and closing frame Eminem's apparent drowning as a visual gag, echoing the song's mockery of self-destructive behavior.
• The animated sequence features a chicken character resembling Foghorn Leghorn, reflecting the song's reference to beating the cartoon character with an acorn.
• A staged O.J. Simpson murder-trial reference appears in the video, with Eminem leaving behind a bloodied glove.
• The video was released in 1999 to promote "The Slim Shady LP" and accompanied the song's promotional single release.
• "Role Model" became a minor U.S. chart hit, reaching No. 11 on Billboard's Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.