Salt-N-Pepa’s message for Lizzo: Sorry, you’re a role model

Rap legends Salt-N-Pepa are in Melbourne tonight, armed with hits for their NGV Gala performance, and advice for 2019’s brightest hip hop star, Lizzo

Rap legends Salt N Pepa - in Melbourne tonight for the NGV Gala - have a message for 2019’s brightest hip hop star Lizzo: “Sorry, you’re a role model.”

Salt, born Cheryl James, said Lizzo’s body confidence is cause for celebration, even if Lizzo doesn’t want to acknowledge it.

Lizzo attends the 2019 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 24, 2019. Picture: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

Larger-than-life rapper and singer Lizzo’s hits include Good As Hell, Truth Hurts, and Juice.

“I love Lizzo. She doesn’t want to be the spokeswoman for body image issues, and I totally get that,” James told Confidential. “But she is a spokeswoman. Lizzo, I’m very sorry, but you are. I’m sorry, but you’re a role model.

“I didn’t want to be the spokeswoman for a lot of things. I didn’t want to be a role model, but I was put in that position and I had to accept that responsibility.

“With Lizzo, people are looking at her, like: ‘You’re OK with who you are, regardless of the standard the world is putting on you, and you’re putting it in their face, whether they like it or not, whether they’re comfortable with it, or not.

“She’s saying: ‘I am who I am, and I’m OK with me.’ That’s an amazing message.”

Lizzo performs onstage during the 2019 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 24, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

New Yorker’s Salt N Pepa – James, ‘Pepa’ (Sandra Denton) and DJ Spinderella (Deidra Roper) _ formed in 1985. Their hits include Push It, Whatta Man, and Let’s Talk About Sex

James struggled with body confidence during the height of Salt-N-Pepa’s success.

“I was bulimic for many, many years. I had a severe eating disorder,” she told Confidential.

“My dad was a raging alcoholic. My brother was paranoid schizophrenic, but back then, nobody had a handle on mental illness. We all have our issues, and it comes out in addictive behaviour. For me, it turned out to be bulimia.

Cheryl James aka “Salt” from Salt-N-Pepa arrives at the 2019 NGV Gala. Picture: Josie Hayden

Sandra Denton aka 'Pepa' from Salt-N-Pepa attends the NGV Gala 2019 at the National Gallery of Victoria on November 30, 2019. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

“I had no control over my life, and this was something I could control. It was about body image issues, having to be thin and beautiful, and not being able to handle the pressure. But, eventually, it taught me how to love and accept myself.”

Today, Salt-N-Pepa are overseeing a biopic on their lives and career. The telemovie is being made for US cable network, Lifetime.

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“You see that famous image of us in those Salt-N-Pepa jackets, but behind that was a lot of learning, growing and struggling. But everybody goes through it. The morale of the story is: ‘I’m OK, you’re OK.’

Salt-N-Pepa were set to perform at the NGV Gala tonight for the opening of the Keith Harng and Jean-Michel Basquiat exhibition, Crossing Lines.

Special guests at the event included models Georgia May and Lizzy Jagger, artist KAWS, influential photographer and stylist Maripol, and Keith Haring Foundation CEO, Gil Vazquez.