Deidra “DJ Spinderella” Roper has opened up about where she stands with Salt-N-Pepa after the legal dispute and how they are in a much better place as they embark on a tour.
While chatting with PEOPLE about her recent collaboration with Apple Music and Planet Fitness, the musician gave a positive update on her relationship with Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton.
This reunion comes after years of legal disputes regarding her termination from the band and a biopic film.
DJ Spinderella Says She’s ‘in a Good Space’ with Salt-N-Pepa Today
GettyWhen chatting with PEOPLE, Roper told the outlet that she is in a “good space” with Salt-N-Pepa today. While it’s not clear how the musical trio reached an agreement, they are now co-headlining a tour with TLC and special guests En Vogue.
“It’s a sisterhood, and sometimes it’s good, and sometimes it’s not so good,” the Grammy winner noted, revealing that it’s all about “just being on the same page” — and right now, they are.
“We’re about to go on tour. Literally next week is the start of the Iconic Tour,” the 55-year-old added.
“This is the first time we’ll be on stage on a tour in years for me. They’ve been doing shows. I’ve been doing my own thing, but us coming together, this is a really big moment,” Roper added.
While it’s unclear what went on behind the scenes, Salt-N-Pepa is now co-headlining a North American It’s Iconic Tour with TLC and special guests En Vogue, with dates across the United States and a stop in New Zealand.
Ahead of the tour, Roper shared that she’s “trying to keep my mental together and be as healthy as possible, eating right, and just curving all the negative stuff, negative energy, negative foods.”
“Anything negative in my space won’t help me get through this tour,” she added. “So I’m doing everything in a positive nature and it’s working. I think I’m in a happy state going into it.”
What Happened Between DJ Spinderella and Salt-N-Pepa
GettyIn 2019, DJ Spinderella, who joined Salt-N-Pepa in 1987, claimed she was terminated via email. She proceeded to sue the duo for unpaid royalties, breaches of contract, fraud and misrepresentation. However, the case was dismissed after all parties reached a confidential settlement.
In 2021, the DJ complained that the group had “wrongfully excluded” her from a Lifetime biopic about the music group. However, the duo claimed they did reach out to Roper about the biopic, but said it focused more on their friendship.
In an interview with The Real from earlier that year, James and Denton said they reached out to Roper to consult with her about the biopic, and added: “We’ve come to a crossroads where we have decided to agree to disagree. … There’s six sides to every story. We just hope that we can come to some sort of resolution in the future.”
When she spoke to Billboard in 2021, the DJ exclaimed that “The relationship is over,” and would only consider a reunion if her former co-stars apologized.
“When you have a legacy, you want to make sure it would outweigh this stuff,” she told the outlet. “I’m not closed off to [a reunion], but I will be respected. I will be treated fairly. … I will never be in a group that does not want to be with me.”
