Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, the renowned TLC vocalist, swiftly addressed the backlash on social media after reports surfaced that she had financially supported Donald Trump and other MAGA Republicans. The revelation, brought to light by MeidasTouch through Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings, showed donations exceeding $1,000 to GOP-related campaigns, including a $340 contribution to the Trump National Committee JFC for the 2024 election cycle.

Unintentional Sharing of a Michelle Obama Conspiracy

In a candid video statement, Chilli explained that she inadvertently reposted a conspiracy theory alleging that Michelle Obama is transgender. She expressed deep admiration for the former First Lady, highlighting her history of voting for Barack Obama twice and supporting Michelle’s initiatives promoting children’s health and fitness in schools.

“I have nothing but respect for Michelle Obama and would never intentionally share anything disrespectful about her or any woman,” Chilli said. “I wasn’t aware of the repost until I received numerous calls and messages. Being not very tech-savvy, I accidentally hit the repost button while scrolling.”

After realizing the mistake, she promptly removed the post and reiterated her support for the Obamas and their causes, emphasizing that spreading harmful or hateful content is against her character.

Clarifying the MAGA Donations: A Misunderstanding?

Regarding the donations to MAGA-linked organizations, Chilli stated she believed her contributions were directed toward veteran support groups and anti-human trafficking efforts-causes close to her heart, especially since her father is a veteran. She admitted to not thoroughly reviewing the details before donating, a common oversight she now regrets.

However, she did not provide a clear explanation for confusing political fundraising platforms like WinRed and the Trump National Committee JFC with charitable veteran organizations.

Firmly Distancing Herself from MAGA Ideology

In the caption accompanying her apology, Chilli firmly rejected any association with the MAGA movement or its policies, which she believes are detrimental to many Americans. She wrote:

“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. 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. Two things I care deeply about as my dad is a veteran and everyone knows I love children. I have learned a valuable lesson and ask for grace as I navigate this.”

This controversy emerges as TLC prepares to join Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue on the highly anticipated “It’s Iconic” Tour this summer. It remains to be seen whether this incident will affect ticket sales or fan support, as social media users remain skeptical about the claim that these actions were accidental.

Below are some of the public reactions to the situation.