This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Artist News Business News Legal
Court sends DJ Spinderella’s dispute with Salt-N-Pepa to mediation
By Chris Cooke | Published on Monday 5 August 2019
A US judge has rejected a request from Salt-N-Pepa’s long-time DJ, Spinderella, for a restraining order against the hip hop outfit, instead saying that their multi-layered dispute should go to mediation.
Spinderella, real name Deidra Roper, went legal last month after basically being sacked by Salt-N-Pepa at the start of the year. The lawsuit compiled a wide range of grievances dating back two decades. It sought to claim allegedly unpaid or underpaid royalties and fees, and to force Salt (aka Cheryl James-Wray) and Pepa (aka Sandra Denton) to stop using Spinderella’s name and image on any new promotional materials.
The judge’s decision to send the case to mediation was announced and welcomed by James-Wray and Denton late last week.
According to Billboard, they said: “We are grateful for the judge’s ruling as [we] have been extremely generous to Spin over many decades and attempted to settle what amounts to a divorce, both peacefully and without rancour. Unfortunately, Spin and her legal team adopted a scorched earth approach that brought unnecessary attention to a business dispute that all along could have, and should have, been settled amicably and privately”.
However, a legal rep for Roper said that although the DJ had not got a restraining order against her former collaborators, they had voluntarily agreed to do everything they can to ensure the Spinderella name and image is not used in their promo activity.
In a statement to Billboard, said lawyer said: “Although the court denied today’s request for a temporary restraining order, Salt-N-Pepa have agreed [to] not make any reference to Spinderella in connection with any promotion, and will make good faith efforts to cause others to honour the same”.
Confirming that the DJ still planned to push to get the money she believes she is owed, the lawyer added: “The parties were ordered by the court to mediate this case – further substantiating Spinderella’s legal and equitable rights against the defendants to protect her brand and reputation, as well as her right to be compensated for her work”.
