TLC’s Chilli Slammed For Saying ‘All Lives Matter,’ Singer Responds To Controversy

R&B group TLC is preparing for the release of their fifth studio album — their first in 14 years — but during a recent press tour in the United Kingdom, member Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas made comments about Black Lives Matter and All Lives Matter that has landed the group in hot water. Following backlash, the singer has now responded to the hate.

Speaking with Channel 4 News in the U.K., the group was asked if they felt strongly about the Black Lives Matter movement kicking off in America. “Did you go on any marches? Did you go on any anti-Trump marches?” asked the host.

Chilli was the first to respond, saying she didn’t “go on any marches,” but it was the singer’s next comments that got her in trouble with fans. “But for me, all lives matter, you know what I mean? Because there’s a time when different groups are targeted for you know different things, you know what I’m saying?”

The R&B star has since clarified her comments, telling The Shade Room, “Of course Black Lives Matter and the killing of young black boys is heartbreaking to all of us. Everyone knows I am a black mother of a black son so there is no way I could watch what’s happening and not be affected.”

The TLC member added that her comments were supposed to be inclusive of everyone but she wasn’t trying to “undervalue the Black Lives Matter movement” or “suggest police brutality against blacks is acceptable.”

In the original interview, Chilli said that while issues of police brutality against black teenagers are wrong, it would also be wrong if it happened to a white teen as well. “So, I just think that, just the whole what happened, police brutality against these young black boys and stuff like that. All of that kind of stuff is wrong, you know, and even if it was a Caucasian teen, kid, that this was happening to, or whatever.”

Chilli then went on to discuss what she felt the problem with police was, saying, “It’s just not right, and you know, some people take that authoritative position and go crazy with it obviously. I think that before people are higher in these positions, they need to so some kind of better background check or mental stability check on them, to see if they can really handle being in a position like that.”

The duo’s other member, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, also chimed in, saying, “That color sticks together too, blue, they stick together,” referring to police officers. “They’re not gonna tell on each other.”

But it wasn’t only Chilli who found herself in the middle of a controversy due to her comments, T-Boz also made comments that had her receiving backlash. When asked, “What’s it like for you both, being black women in America in the age of Donald Trump?” T-Boz responded, “I don’t care about Donald Trump, so, I mean, God is my president.”

T-Boz added, “So, I just feel sorry for people it affects, but I don’t care about him.” The singer also revealed that during her time on Trump’s “Celebrity Apprentice,” she wasn’t a fan of him. “I worked on ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ when he wasn’t president, and I wasn’t too fond of him then. So, I don’t care really.”