I was really upset, and it showed in different ways. I’ve had bouts of depression over it. It messed with my self-esteem and my confidence.
If there’s anyone in the music industry who got done dirty by their own group, it’s Spinderella. She gave Salt-N-Pepa over 30 years of her life—her talent, commitment, and skills—only for them to turn around and act like she wasn’t that important. Especially Peppa.
When we got our deal, Salt-N-Pepa received $1.6 million. The truth is, we weren’t contractually obligated to share it, but they took the money and did what they wanted with it. That’s just the reality of what happened.
But why did they really cut Spin out? Because honestly, it never made sense.
For years, Salt-N-Pepa was seen as a trio. They did everything as a trio. Spin was introduced to them by producer Herby Azor back in 1986, right before they were set to perform at the Westchester Music Festival. Their original DJ, Latoya Hanson, had been missing rehearsals and appearances, so they needed a replacement. Spin was just 16 when she was chosen, and since she was a minor, her parents had to give permission for her to travel with them.
From that point on, the three of them became one of the biggest female hip-hop acts of all time. Yeah, the group was called Salt-N-Pepa, but Spin wasn’t just a background player. She helped produce songs, appeared on album covers, went on every tour, and was part of reunion shows and Vegas residencies. She was with them for over 30 years. And then, out of nowhere, they just cut her off. And the way they did it? Straight-up cold.
Salt and Peppa have since tried to downplay her role, saying she wasn’t really a full member because she didn’t contribute as much. But after all those years, all that work—how do you just erase someone like that?
Salt-N-Pepa have addressed the controversy surrounding DJ Spinderella’s exclusion from certain events, stating:
“Sometimes, people only ask for Salt and Peppa. A lot of times, they specifically request us to appear or speak without Spinderella. It’s out of our hands, but she always blames us,” they said.
They acknowledged tensions within the group:
“We fight. We do fight. But sometimes, event organizers say, ‘No, we just want Salt and Peppa.’ And it’s hard. That happened a lot—constantly. And when she tried to protest, I stood my ground. I was like, ‘I’m doing this.’”
However, if Spinderella was not an essential part of the group, why was she featured on album covers and receiving awards with them for decades?
Many fans believe Spinderella’s departure was not just about business but rather deep personal issues between her and Salt-N-Pepa. The tension allegedly spanned their entire 30-year partnership but became undeniable in 2018.
The Breaking Point
In late 2018, New Kids on the Block announced The Mixtape Tour, celebrating 30 years in the industry, with Salt-N-Pepa as one of the main acts. The debut show was a major success, but fans quickly noticed Spinderella was missing—even though she had been advertised as part of the lineup.
By May 2019, Spinderella publicly announced she was no longer part of Salt-N-Pepa, revealing she had received a termination email months earlier. She wrote on social media:
“I’m deeply saddened to share that I will not be performing on the NKOTB Mixtape Tour. Despite my involvement in promoting the tour and being highly publicized as one of the acts, I received a termination email in January 2019 from Salt-N-Pepa, excluding me from performances. I expected them to take responsibility for informing the public and other affected parties, but months passed with no mention.”
She further added:
“Out of love for my fans and professionalism, I’m letting everyone know. I refuse to participate in misleading fans.”
While she had continued working with Salt-N-Pepa over the years, Spinderella often raised concerns about finances—especially when it came to tour payments. She agreed to a Las Vegas residency with the group from fall 2018 through spring 2019, expecting payment per show. However, she claimed payments were inconsistent. When she pushed back on the low pay, she received a written termination notice from the group’s lawyers in January.
Spinderella later sued Salt-N-Pepa, accusing them of withholding financial information related to royalties, merchandise sales, and commercial marketing. She sought damages, full disclosure of financial records, and an injunction preventing them from using her name or likeness. Though the lawsuit was eventually settled privately, the rift between them deepened.
The Lifetime Biopic Controversy
Adding fuel to the fire, Salt-N-Pepa released a Lifetime biopic—excluding Spinderella from its development. Understandably, she was not happy:
“I have every right not to support it because it didn’t support me. People need to know that making a movie about our lives was a dream we all shared, something we discussed back in the ’90s. But when that dream came true, I was left out.”
Spinderella also expressed her frustration in a series of tweets:
“Sorry, but I have to speak on this Lifetime special. Too often, Black women who make meaningful contributions in their industries are erased from history. Salt-N-Pepa built a legacy rooted in empowering women, yet they disempowered me. Words can’t express my disappointment when I found out they were making a biopic that excluded me, all while using my image.”
She further stated:
“There’s nothing more unacceptable than a woman silencing another woman. That’s why I can’t support this film.”
Despite her frustrations, she wished the actresses playing the group success and revealed she was writing a memoir detailing her 30-year journey in the music industry.
Fans React
Many fans sided with Spinderella, pointing out that she was not just a DJ—she was part of the group. She appeared in music videos, interviews, and award shows, even rapping on some tracks. To them, it was clear that Salt-N-Pepa had intentionally pushed her out.
In response to the backlash, Salt-N-Pepa addressed the issue:
“We reached out to Spinderella, and it’s unfortunate. We’ve come to a crossroads and agreed to disagree. Our hearts are open to Spinderella—we’ve talked about it. We just hope we can reach some kind of resolution in the future.”
Whether a reunion is possible remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the fallout between Spinderella and Salt-N-Pepa has left a lasting impact on both the group and its fans.
Yeah, right—their hearts were open to Spin, but their wallets? Not so much.
Pepa later claimed they did reach out to Spinderella during the production of the film, adding that the biopic focused on their college friendship, a period Spin wasn’t part of. But let’s be real—that was a flat-out lie. The movie covered their career extensively, and Spin was undeniably a key part of that. They didn’t just overlook her; they deliberately left her out. Period.
In later interviews, Spin opened up about how deeply hurt she was by their treatment. She described the experience as emotionally draining and made it clear that the only way forward would be for them to handle the business properly and offer a genuine apology.
When asked whether she’d ever consider working with Salt-N-Pepa again, Spin didn’t shut the door completely. But she made one thing clear: things had to change first.
“I—I, you know, I don’t want to abandon our legacy. I just mentally have to do what needs to be done for myself, and—and—and there has to be a mutual respect. And that’s it.”
Unfortunately, Salt-N-Pepa don’t seem to share that same perspective. To this day, they continue to treat Spinderella like an afterthought.
But here’s what fans have always wondered—what really caused the fallout? Was it jealousy? A personal issue involving one of their men? Or was it just about business and contracts?
Honestly, I don’t know. But what do you think? Was there more to the story than they’re letting on? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
