Salt-N-Pepa Reportedly Respond to DJ Spinderella's Lawsuit about Unpaid Royalties

In response to Spinderella’s lawsuit against them, Salt-N-Pepa fired back with claims the DJ has been engaging in a smear campaign and lied about what actually transpired between them.

Things between former collaborators Salt-N-Pepa and DJ Spinderella have been getting messier after the latter filed a lawsuit against the duo. Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton are now fighting back.

WHAT STARTED IT ALL

In early July, Spinderella, aka, Deidra Roper sued her former groupmates for unpaid royalties dating back to 1999. The rift between them began after Roper’s exclusion from Salt-N-Pepa’s tour this year.

She claims she was fired in January via e-mail after promotions of her participation have already been made. This prompted the DJ to dig deeper into their past and sue the duo for payments due to her.

“After decades of friendship, Spinderella has embarked on a smear campaign, and sued her friends, based on blatantly erroneous assertions.”

ROPER'S LAWSUIT

Roper claimed in court documents she’d been unfairly paid despite her great contribution to the band’s success. This includes a 1999 album in which she was promised a third of the royalties which she never received.

She also accused the duo of paying her a measly amount for a VH1 documentary about the rise of the 80s band as well as giving her no share at all from royalties earned in the past 10 years.

Spinderella added that negotiations for her participation in a Las Vegas residency promised her involvement in this year’s tour with New Kids On The Block. But she was fired from that tour. She claims she agreed to reduce her talent fee for the Las Vegas gig only because she was assured of higher compensation with the tour.

James and Denton explained it was Roper who left the band years ago and only decided to return in 2013. Out of “nostalgia and the desire to help a friend,” they agreed to take the new grandmother back in...

SALT-N-PEPA'S RESPONSE

With Salt-N-Pepa’s reputation being dragged in the mud, the duo responded with their own claims against Roper. According to The Blast, James and Denton countered the DJ’s allegations by accusing her of engaging in a smear campaign.

“After decades of friendship, Spinderella has embarked on a smear campaign, and sued her friends, based on blatantly erroneous assertions,” according to the duo in their court documents. “The truth, however, is that Salt and Pepa have always tried to do right by Spinderella.”

James and Denton explained it was Roper who left the band years ago and only decided to return in 2013. Out of “nostalgia and the desire to help a friend,” they agreed to take the new grandmother back in with the condition that she would be paid per show which Roper agreed to.

When things didn’t work out, Salt and Pepa said they tried to “close open issues” and claimed Spinderella agreed they would never mention her name in future endeavors of the duo.

As for Roper’s claims she was not paid in full for the Las Vegas residency, the duo called it “pure fantasy.”

According to James and Denton, if Roper wants them to stop using her name in any of their future publicity, they have no problem with that. They also insist Roper was paid fairly and had been paid what was owed to her.