TLC’s Chilli Responds to Backlash Over Past Political Donations

Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas is reportedly taking the political controversy surrounding her harder than anyone expected.

The TLC singer has spent the past two weeks at the center of an online firestorm after Federal Election Commission records showed she made 17 donations totaling nearly $900 to Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign and Republican fundraising groups.

The donations, made between April and November 2024 under her legal name, went through WinRed and included contributions to the Trump National Committee JFC and Never Surrender Inc., a fundraising group tied directly to Trump.

After the donations surfaced, social media users dug up a repost from Chilli’s account sharing a debunked conspiracy theory about former First Lady Michelle Obama. They also pointed to “likes” on posts from Republican Congressman Byron Donalds and other Trump-friendly figures.

Within days, criticism spread across social media, with public figures including DL Hughley and Jemele Hill openly questioning Chilli’s explanation.

Chilli has insisted she is not MAGA and says the donations happened because she believed she was giving money to organizations that support veterans and fight human trafficking.

“I didn’t read the fine print,” she said. “I thought I was supporting causes against human trafficking and for veterans.”

People close to the singer say the backlash has left her shaken because it cuts directly against the image she has spent decades building.

“She’s taking this all very seriously, and this shouldn’t supersede a legacy that includes the empowerment of Black women,” one person close to Chilli said to The New York Post. “She’s not that person.”

The outlet also reports that Chilli has been praying daily with her prayer group and is especially upset that fans now associate her with controversial politics.

The singer, who is a Seventh-day Adventist, reportedly views the movement through the lens of the January 6 Capitol riot and has told people around her that this is not what she wants attached to her name.

“She really isn’t MAGA,” another person close to the singer said. “She voted for President Obama twice.”

TLC is about to head out on the “It’s Iconic” tour with Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue, and there is already concern that the controversy could hurt ticket sales in major cities like New York.

That said, the tour has reportedly sold more than 150,000 tickets, with six markets already sold out, including Los Angeles.