Spinderella Cut It up One Time! Salt-N-Pepa’s third member Deidra Roper SLAMS the group’s Lifetime biopic: ‘I was wrongfully excluded’
DJ Spinderella – real name Deidra Muriel Roper – wants to talk about the awkward fact she was ‘excluded’ from Lifetime’s upcoming Salt-N-Pepa biopic.
Her bandmates Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton have already been promoting the three-hour special, that is set to air this Saturday, explaining how they both played an integral part in telling their trailblazing story.
However, it appears after years of bad blood between the three rappers, Roper was not invited to give her input into the dramatization, which charts the bands success after first forming in 1985, and releasing their iconic hip-hop single Push It in 1987.
Not cool! Salt-N-Pepa’s third member DJ Spinderella – real name Deidra Muriel Roper – has SLAMMED the group’s Lifetime biopic: ‘I was wrongfully excluded’
‘Sorry but I gotta speak on this Lifetime special..,’ Roper, 49, tweeted on Friday, a day ahead of the movie’s debut. ‘Too often, Black women who have made meaningful contributions in their industry are left out of historical narratives.’
Roper was with the band from the start of their success, after being introduced to James and Denton, both 54, by their producer Hurby Azor, original DJ, Latoya Hanson, had missed several rehearsals and group appearances in 1986 (TV host Wendy Williams had also auditioned as the DJ.)
‘Back when Salt n’ Pepa was building our legacy, which is rooted in empowering women, I could not have dreamed that this same group would one day disempower me,’ Roper continued in her statement on Twitter.
Let’s talk about vexed: Roper let rip on Twitter Friday, explaining that she was excluded from the making of the Lifetime movie
Legendary: Salt-N-Pepa – the American hip-hop girl group formed in 1985 – have sold over 15 million records worldwide (pictured above in 1994)
Adding: ‘Words cannot fully express my disappointment when I learned a decision was made to move forward with a Lifetime biopic that wrongfully excluded me from every aspect of development and production…’
‘…all the while using my image throughout, given that I played an integral role in the group’s story and success. There’s nothing more unacceptable than a woman being silenced by another woman. It is for this reason, I will not be supporting it,’ she went on.
‘I do, however, want to offer a huge congratulations to the talented actresses that represented us, including Monique Paul, who I wish would’ve been given an opportunity to share my true perspective with.’
In it from the get-go: Roper (far right) with Sandra ‘Pepa’ Denton (left) and Cheryl ‘Salt’ James (middle)
However, Roper then revealed that she is now getting the opportunity tell her side of the story afterall.
She revealed: ‘The great news is I’m in the final stages of writing my memoir, a personal journey navigating through life, relationships, and the industry that raised me. 30+ years is a lot of content and I’m ready to share.’