Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas of TLC, a renowned member of the group TLC, has categorically denied any association with the MAGA movement, despite public records indicating that she donated to Donald Trump's 2024 campaign. On March 28, 2023, Chilli shared a heartfelt message on Instagram to clarify her political stance.
"I want to be absolutely clear: I am not MAGA, and I do not support any of the policies that are causing immense harm to the American people," she began. "I made a common mistake that many others have made. I thought I was supporting causes against human trafficking and for veterans," she continued. "These are two things that I deeply care about, as my father is a veteran, and everyone knows that I love children. I have learned a valuable lesson from this, and I ask for forgiveness as I navigate through this. Love, Chilli."
Federal donation records viewed by PEOPLE show that a person named Rozonda Thomas donated a total of nearly $900 to WinRed, the payment processor for Republican campaign donations, the Trump National Committee JFC, and Never Surrender Inc., which has direct ties to Trump, in 2024. The address listed for Rozonda Thomas in the donation records was in Stone Mountain, Georgia, which is publicly linked to the hip-hop star, per The Independent.
In the same Instagram post, Chilli also shared a video of herself further clarifying an incident where she had reposted a conspiracy theory related to former First Lady Michelle Obama. The singer said she didn't even realize she had reshared the post and had no intention of doing so.
"Hey guys, I wanted to come on here to address a few things that are circulating on the Internet that are very concerning to me," she said. "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 any woman," she continued. "I would never do that."
"I had no clue that this repost had happened until I started getting phone calls and text messages from everybody," Chilli said, adding that she is "not very computer savvy." "So I'm looking for this repost button, and I see that... all of these buttons are very, very close to each other, and clearly, I was scrolling, and my thumb hit the repost button," the musician explained. "Again, I had no clue that something like this happened until I got all the calls," she added.
In a statement to PEOPLE, a representative for Chilli said it was "unfortunate" that the star's "intentions are being misrepresented," adding that Chilli "has always led with heart, compassion, and a genuine desire to give back."
"The 17 donations currently being discussed were made over time, with many set up as automatic recurring contributions. From her perspective, these donations were directed toward causes she deeply believes in, specifically organizations focused on protecting children and supporting veterans," the statement continued.
"Chilli has been clear in her personal statement. She does not align with MAGA ideology, nor does she support any policies rooted in harm or division. Her life and career have reflected the opposite—a commitment to uplifting women, leading with empathy, and using her voice for positive impact," Chilli's representative said.
