TLC’s Chilli insisted she’s “not MAGA” after Trump donations and apologized for accidentally reposting a Michelle Obama conspiracy theory on social media.
The singer born Rozonda Thomas sparked a pair of controversies this weekend after The Independent reported that Chilli had donated over $1,000 to Republican-linked fundraisers and Trump reelection efforts in 2024, including $340 to Trump National Committee JFC.
Fans then realized that Chilli’s social media account had re-shared a Michelle Obama video popular among conspiracy theorists. On Saturday, Chilli uploaded a video statement on Instagram explaining that she accidentally reposted the Obama video.
“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 to any woman, I would never do that. I have no clue that this repost had happened until I started getting phone calls and text messages from everybody and I immediately went to my page to see what was going on,” Chilli said in the video.
“Mind you, I’m 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. Again, I had no clue that something like this happened until I got all the calls.”
Chilli, who un-reposted the video soon after, added, “That is not my character. I have supported the Obamas. I gave to the campaign, both runs, voted twice for him, and supported the organization that Michelle had in the schools for exercise for the kids. I would never do anything that’s harmful or hateful to anybody. I’m not wired like that.”
As for the political donations, Chilli said she thought she was donating to organizations benefitting military veterans but “did not read the fine print.” However, she did not explain how she confused veterans organizations with Republican-backed WinRed and Trump National Committee JFC, both of which records show she donated to.
“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,” Chilli wrote. “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.”
The Chilli controversies arrived just days after TLC announced they would hit the road this summer alongside Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue on the “It’s Iconic” Tour.
