TLC’s Chilli is in the hot seat
Looks like Chilli won’t be “chasin’ waterfalls” any time soon.
Last weekend, the Columbus native, and one-third of legendary group TLC, landed in controversy for donations she made to campaigns linked to President Donald Trump. According to FEC records, the singer made 17 payments totaling nearly $1,000 in 2024.
The Independent broke the news, prompting many fans to criticize Chilli for her assumed political leanings. The uproar got so massive that Chilli responded with a statement and video claiming that she’s “not MAGA.”
“I made a mistake too many make: I did not read the fine print,” she wrote. “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.”
Chilli also apologized for reposting a conspiracy theory about former first lady Michelle Obama being transgender.
The number of payments and Chilli’s past likes of Trump-affiliated posts make her claims very hard to believe — so much so that fans are boycotting TLC’s upcoming tour (titled “It’s Iconic”) with Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue, which was announced last week.
Whether Chilli truly supports MAGA is unclear, but her future with the tour doesn’t seem certain. Black women, a demographic that’s remained very loyal to the Democratic Party, are the core audience for TLC, Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue. The news of Chilli’s donations could hurt ticket sales and may force the tour to be over before it even begins.
So much for being “iconic.”
In other news, happy April Fools’ Day. Below is a playlist to celebrate.
About the Author
DeAsia is a music and culture reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She focuses on the intersection of arts, culture and diverse communities, as well as how emerging social trends are being expressed through the lens of the Atlanta aesthetic. DeAsia's work can be seen in Pitchfork, Essence, Teen Vogue, Elle and more.
