Dee Barnes entered the game as a trailblazer, the first female hip-hop journalist with a television series. Though Pump It Up! featured many prominent interviews with some of the late-eighties' and early nineties' biggest names, many have come to associate Barnes with another unrelated incident. In 1991, Barnes was assaulted by Dr. Dre during a record release party, an incident that was later referenced by Eminem in Slim Shady LP's Dre-assisted "Guilty Conscience." While the situation was ultimately settled out of court, it appears to have followed Barnes ever since.
Now, Barnes has found herself once again facing adversity of a different nature. The former host recently shared an update on her situation, explaining that she's currently in the process of being evicted. She has since shared a GoFundMe page with a further explanation: "This page was created as an emergency fund to stop the process and the subsequent legal fees," she writes. "Even though I am facing extreme financial hardship, I keep my head up. I know who I am, I know my worth and I know I'm not alone."
Speaking with HipHopDX, Barnes drew a parallel between her current circumstances and her experience during the Dr. Dre assault trial. “I had never asked for public help before, but I then remembered a long time ago while I was going through the assault trial in 1991 people were sending me checks for my legal fees," she tells the publication. "I never cashed any of them — not one — but knowing I had that support kept me strong enough to continue to face each court date. Right now, I am officially homeless. My goal with the campaign is to regain stability, which is imperative for survivors of any trauma."
Now, Barnes is seeking the assistance of her supporters to help solidify her position. Should you be interested in donating to her cause, the GoFundMe page can be accessed here. Barnes is currently a little under a thousand short of her intended five-thousand dollar goal. Best wishes to Dee Barnes!
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