TLC’s Chilli Addresses Political Donation Controversy and Denies MAGA Ties

Clarifying the Controversy

TLC member Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas has issued a formal statement to address recent reports suggesting she had made financial contributions to Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. The singer, known for her iconic work with the R&B trio, took to Instagram on Sunday, March 29, to explicitly distance herself from the MAGA movement and the political platform associated with the former president.

“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,” Thomas wrote. The clarification comes in the wake of public scrutiny following the circulation of Federal Election Commission (FEC) records that appeared to link her name to multiple donations made in 2024 to organizations including WinRed, the Trump National Committee JFC, and Never Surrender, Inc.

Addressing the Financial Discrepancy

In her statement, Thomas acknowledged the confusion surrounding the donations, attributing the situation to a lack of due diligence regarding the recipients of her funds. She explained that her intent was to support specific charitable causes rather than a political agenda.

“I made a mistake too many make: I did not read the fine print. I thought I was supporting causes against human trafficking and for veterans,” she stated. Thomas emphasized her personal connection to these issues, noting that her father is a veteran and expressing her long-standing commitment to child advocacy. She concluded by asking for grace as she navigates the fallout from the oversight, characterizing the experience as a “valuable lesson.”

Responding to Social Media Allegations

Beyond the financial controversy, Thomas also addressed a separate incident involving a since-deleted social media post. Reports had surfaced earlier in the month alleging that the singer had reshared a right-wing conspiracy theory that disparaged former First Lady Michelle Obama. Thomas categorically denied any intent to spread such content.

“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,” Thomas asserted. She explained that she is “not very computer savvy” and suggested the repost was an accidental result of scrolling through her feed. “I’m looking for this repost button, and I see that all of them, all of these buttons are very, very close to each other, and clearly I was scrolling and my thumb hit the repost button,” she added, noting that she was unaware of the action until she began receiving inquiries from concerned fans and associates.

Looking Ahead: The ‘It’s Iconic’ Tour

The controversy arrives at a pivotal moment for TLC, as the group prepares for the upcoming “It’s Iconic” tour. The highly anticipated trek, which features coheadliners Salt-N-Pepa and openers En Vogue, was announced just days before the group performed together at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards. The tour is scheduled to commence on August 15 in Franklin, Tennessee, marking a significant return to the stage for these legendary 90s R&B and hip-hop icons.