TLC Star Chilli Addresses Political Controversy and Social Media Mishap
Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, the 55-year-old member of the iconic 90s girl group TLC, has publicly stated that she is "not MAGA" following intense criticism from fans. The backlash stemmed from reports that she made donations to Republican fundraising groups in 2024 and accidentally reposted a conspiracy theory about former First Lady Michelle Obama.
Instagram Statement Clarifies Position
On Saturday, Thomas took to Instagram to address the viral reports, posting a clear statement to her followers. "I WANT TO BE CLEAR: I am not MAGA and do not support any of the many policies that are causing great harm to the American people," she wrote emphatically. The singer explained that she "made a mistake too many make: I did not read the fine print" when making donations.
Thomas elaborated that she believed she was supporting causes against human trafficking and for veterans, issues close to her heart as her father is a veteran and she has always championed children's welfare. She concluded her statement by saying, "I have learned a valuable lesson and ask for grace as I navigate this."
Accidental Repost of Michelle Obama Content
In a separate Instagram slide, Thomas addressed the Michelle Obama conspiracy theory repost that had circulated online. "Hey guys, I wanted to come on here to address a few things that circulated on the internet that's very concerning to me," she began in a video clip. "Let me say this first. I have the utmost respect and admiration for Michelle Obama and I would never say or do anything that is disrespectful to her or to any woman. I would never do that."
The music artist claimed she had "no clue" about the repost until receiving numerous phone calls and text messages alerting her to the situation. Thomas, who admitted to not being "computer savvy," explained that while searching for the repost button, her thumb accidentally hit it due to the close proximity of all the buttons on the interface. "Again I had no clue that something like this happened until I got all the calls," she emphasized.
Previous Political Donations and Statements
According to reports from The Independent, Thomas reportedly donated $210.60 to WinRed, a Republican fundraising platform. This isn't the first time the singer has faced controversy for her statements. Back in 2017, she sparked backlash during an interview with U.K. Channel 4 News when she stated that "all lives matter" in response to questions about police brutality.
At the time, she explained, "For me, all lives matter, because there's a time when different groups are targeted for different things. Even with the police brutality against these young black boys and stuff like that, all of that kind of stuff is wrong. Even if it was a Caucasian teen kid this was happening to, it's just not right." She added that better background checks and mental stability assessments should be required for people in positions of authority.
TLC's Continued Musical Journey
Despite the controversy, Thomas and her TLC bandmate Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins are moving forward with their musical careers. The duo is set to reunite for the It's Iconic Tour, joining forces with Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue. The tour is scheduled to kick off on August 15 in Franklin, Tennessee, and conclude in October in Concord, California, with stops in cities including Des Moines, Tampa, Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Toronto.
Thomas and Watkins recently performed together at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles, demonstrating their enduring partnership. TLC was originally formed in 1990 with Thomas, Watkins, and the late Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, creating hits like "No Scrubs" and "Creep." Lopes tragically passed away in 2002 at age 30 following a road collision in Honduras.
During a past interview on Good Morning Britain, Thomas was asked if there had been plans to replace Lopes in the group. "We heard from so many people, in the business, that surprised us more than anything. The fans, not so much," she explained. "It was never ever a thought to replace her, no one in TLC can be replaced. Nobody can fill those shoes." Since Lopes' passing, Thomas and Watkins have continued performing as a duo, honoring their bandmate's legacy while maintaining TLC's musical presence.
