In 2000, the rapper Eminem released one of his strangest yet most acclaimed songs, “Stan.” This musical story about an obsessed fan topped the charts in 11 countries and remains a masterwork of the Eminem catalog, but was it really based on a real person?

In fact, Stan was entirely a product of Eminem’s imagination. The rapper instantly hit upon the idea of an obsessed fan after the producer Mark Howard James sent him a tape of the song “Thank You” by Dido; in particular, it was the line “your picture on my wall” which struck a chord in Eminem’s mind.

Today, the term “stan” has transcended its original context, with the Oxford English Dictionary saying it indicates “an overzealous or obsessive fan of a particular celebrity.” Chances are you know at least one person who has described themselves as “stanning” for an actor or singer — perhaps you should check their trunk.