American singer and television host

Dee Barnes

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American singer and television host
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Music

Denise "Dee" Barnes (stage name Sista D) is an American rapper and former Fox television personality who performed in the West Coast Hip Hop female duo Body & Soul and hosted a radio show on KDAY, prior to gaining wider fame as the host of Fox’s hip hop show Pump It Up!. In the 1990s, she was physically assaulted by Dr. Dre at a rap industry party in 1990. Barnes filed charges. Dre pled no contest. Despite being the victim, she was black-listed from the rap industry. A public apology came years later but did not account specifically to the targets of his abuse, including artist Mi'chel'le: “I apologize to the women I’ve hurt. I deeply regret what I did and know that it has forever impacted all of our lives.” Barnes plans on writing a biography of her life, according to a 2019 VIBE Magazine article. Barnes is one of many Black women in hip-hop that experienced sexual harassment at the hands of men they knew and has often been dismissed, upon Barnes' coming out, rallies for violence against women started following.