Lil Mama Admits To Being “Depressed” After 2009 VMA Incident

Lil Mama admits she was depressed after she infamously crashed Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ VMA performance.

The rapper reflected on the aftermath of the incident during an interview on the ‘The Jay Hill Podcast.’ It’s been fifteen years, and the ‘Lip Gloss’ rapper has been unable to live the moment down.

Lil Mama Shares How The Aftermath Caused Depression

The 35-year-old said Black leaders in the media added fuel to the fire. She labeled it “propaganda.”

“I had to deal with propaganda, which is basically journalists from like the Wendy Williams to the radio stations, The Breakfast Club, or even at the time, Ed Lover was up there,” she stated.

“It was giving gossip. It wasn’t giving leadership, it wasn’t giving fellowship,” Lil’ Mama added.

The actress was 20 years old at the time.

“I was hurt, I was depressed. I was like, ‘What’s going on?’ You got everybody telling you you’re doing bad. People pointing at you like, ‘What did you do?’”

She Makes Amends With Alicia Keys and Jay-Z

In March 2023, the former ‘America’s Best Dance Crew’ judge hugged it out with Alicia Keys publicly at an event for Teyana Taylor’s film, ‘A Thousand and One.’

Jay-Z shared that he had no ill feelings towards the rapper on Twitter Spaces in 2021, as previously reported.

“Of course [we forgive her]. C’mon. Don’t do that. That’s our sister. Man, we love her,” the rapper said. “I wouldn’t recommend people just jumping on other artists’ stage, but we don’t wish her no harm.”

At the time, Lil Mama took to Instagram to share her gratitude for the billionaire’s words.

“I appreciate hearing this portion of last [night’s] conversation.” she shared. “This has always been my stance, Love. Love for both my big brother, big sister, and my city. It brings clarity to all of us as a community to actually hear these words from our legendary leaders.”

Despite the backlash Lil Mama received in 2009, she has gone on to do some pretty cool things in her career. She has secured starring roles in movies. Most notably, critics praised her portrayal of Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes in VH1’s biopic, ‘CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story,’ in 2013.