Salt From ‘Salt-N-Pepa’ Shuts Down Nasty Rumors About Ex-Husband — “To The Best Of My Knowledge, He’s Straight!”
Legendary rapper Cheryl “Salt” James, one half of the iconic hip-hop duo Salt-N-Pepa, is speaking out and setting the record straight — literally. The 58-year-old hip-hop pioneer just addressed a wave of viral social media rumors claiming that she caught her ex-husband, Gavin Wray, “with a man.”
According to Media Take Out, dozens of videos have popped up on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, many using AI-generated voiceovers and fake “receipts,” to claim that Salt ended her marriage after allegedly discovering Gavin’s secret relationship with a man. But now Salt is firing back — and she’s not holding her tongue.
Salt Clears the Air
In a new statement, Salt flat-out denied the rumors, calling them false and hurtful. “That’s not true,” she said firmly. “We split up for other reasons, but that wasn’t one of them. And to the best of my knowledge, he’s straight.”
Salt and Gavin Wray were together for more than a decade before marrying in 2000, and the couple shared two children before quietly divorcing several years ago. While Salt has typically kept her personal life private, the rumors became so widespread that she felt she had to speak up.
“She’s never been one to get into gossip,” a friend close to the rapper told Media Take Out, “but when AI videos start making up fake stories about your marriage — that’s where she draws the line.”
Social Media Chaos
The controversy started when AI-generated clips began circulating, using old interviews and fabricated audio to make it sound like Salt had admitted to catching Gavin “in a compromising position.” Some of the videos even featured realistic but digitally altered footage, making them appear more believable.
Fans flooded Salt’s social media pages with questions, forcing the rap icon to step in and clarify the situation. “It’s crazy what people will believe,” one commenter wrote. “These AI rumors are getting out of control.”
Salt responded with grace — but made her frustration known, reminding fans how easily misinformation spreads online, especially when it’s about celebrity relationships.
The Real Story Behind Their Split
While Salt didn’t go into full detail, insiders say her marriage to Gavin ended due to irreconcilable differences and the pressures of fame — not infidelity or secret relationships.
“They loved each other for a long time,” one source shared. “It just ran its course. There was no drama, no big scandal — just two people growing in different directions.”
Salt, who rose to fame in the late ’80s with hits like “Push It” and “Shoop”, has since focused on her faith, family, and continued touring with her Salt-N-Pepa bandmate Sandra “Pepa” Denton.
Salt’s Message to Fans
Salt is reminding everyone not to believe everything they see online — especially in an era where AI-generated gossip videos are blurring the line between truth and fiction.
“Social media can be such a mess,” she said with a laugh. “I’m all about spreading love, not lies.”
So there you have it — Salt didn’t catch her ex with a man, she’s not dragging his name, and she’s too grown (and too classy) to let fake rumors throw her off beat.