Cheryl “Salt” James Shuts Down Viral Lies: The Truth Behind the Gavin Wray

When it comes to hip-hop legends, Cheryl “Salt” James of Salt-N-Pepa has always stood on integrity, faith, and authenticity. But even icons aren’t safe from the wildfire of internet gossip — and this week, Salt found herself forced to address a disturbing rumor head-on.

In a 71-second video posted to Instagram, Salt looked directly into the camera, calm yet clearly frustrated, to address the false claims circulating online. The rumor? That she allegedly accused her ex-husband, Gavin Wray, of being bisexual or involved in an affair with a man.

Her response was crystal clear:

“That’s a total lie. I never said that. People are just making stuff up for clicks. Don’t believe everything you see online.”

The brief clip, which has since gone viral, is part of a growing trend of celebrities being forced to use their own platforms to correct fabricated stories before they spiral. Salt urged her followers to “stop feeding clickbait,” emphasizing how damaging — and exhausting — the nonstop churn of false content can be, especially when it targets someone’s personal life.

The Rumor Mill That Never Sleeps

The gossip originated from a string of 2025 YouTube commentary videos claiming that Wray, Salt’s ex-husband and longtime business partner, had “come out as gay” — a claim backed by zero evidence. Within days, these baseless uploads were replicated across TikTok and Facebook Reels, gaining hundreds of thousands of views and sparking even more false speculation.

What made the situation worse was that some outlets twisted old interview clips between Salt and Wray from the early 2000s — editing them out of context to fuel the narrative.

By the time Salt’s team caught wind of it, the story had already taken on a life of its own.

The Real Story: Salt & Gavin’s History

Salt and Gavin Wray were once one of hip-hop’s most admired couples — their love story stood out in an industry not always known for stability. The pair dated for over a decade before marrying in 2000 and have two children together. They were often open about the challenges of fame, faith, and family, with Salt frequently crediting her Christianity for helping her navigate the spotlight.

Though they quietly separated in the 2010s, their split remained remarkably drama-free — until now. Salt’s recent video marks one of the very few times she’s publicly addressed her ex-husband in recent years, highlighting just how deeply the misinformation hurt.

Celebrity Gossip in the AI Era

This moment also underscores a darker shift in online culture — where AI-generated voiceovers, deepfake thumbnails, and edited “reaction” videos are blurring the line between truth and clickbait.

In the last year alone, false rumors about celebrities “coming out,” “secret divorces,” and “hidden affairs” have skyrocketed, with creators earning revenue from shock-based content designed to manipulate viewers.

Salt’s call for accountability hits at the core of that problem. Her message isn’t just about protecting her own name — it’s about protecting truth itself.

“Stop letting people play with your mind,” she said. “If it sounds crazy, it probably is. These blogs don’t care about your spirit — they care about your clicks.”

Why This Matters

Salt’s video resonates because it comes from someone who helped build hip-hop culture before the algorithm decided what stories were worth telling. Her honesty serves as a reminder that real people live behind the headlines, and that lies — even viral ones — can do real damage.

In an age when misinformation travels faster than facts, Salt’s refusal to stay silent shows that standing in truth is still powerful, still necessary, and still the realest thing you can do.

Sources:

• Cheryl “Salt” James Instagram Reel (October 2025)

• YouTube Trending Feed, October 2025 (false commentary clips)

• Archive interviews: The Breakfast Club, 2019; OWN Network, 2017