TLC’s Chilli Denies MAGA Support After FEC Records Show Nearly $900 in Donations to Trump-Linked Groups
Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas of the iconic ’90s R&B group TLC is facing significant online backlash after federal campaign finance records revealed she made multiple donations totaling nearly $900 to Donald Trump-related political committees and other Republican causes during the 2024 election cycle.
According to reports citing Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings, the donations from a Rozonda Thomas (linked to an address associated with the singer in Stone Mountain, Georgia) included roughly $800 directed toward Trump-aligned groups such as WinRed, the Trump National Committee JFC, and Never Surrender Inc. Smaller contributions went to the National Republican Senatorial Committee ($63) and Sen. Ted Cruz ($7).
The revelations surfaced just as TLC announced its major co-headlining “It’s Iconic” tour with Salt-N-Pepa and special guest En Vogue, set to kick off in August 2026. Some fans have reacted strongly, with calls to boycott the tour and remove TLC classics like “Waterfalls” and “No Scrubs” from playlists.
Adding fuel to the controversy, Chilli was also criticized earlier in March 2026 for reportedly reposting a long-debunked conspiracy theory about former First Lady Michelle Obama on her Instagram story. The post remained visible for over 24 hours before being deleted.
On March 28, 2026, Chilli addressed both issues directly on social media. In a written statement and video, she clarified that she is “not MAGA” and does not support policies she believes are harmful. She claimed the donations were made in error after she failed to read the fine print, believing she was contributing to causes supporting veterans and fighting human trafficking.
“I made a mistake too many make: I did not read the fine print,” she wrote. Chilli added that she has “the utmost respect for Michelle Obama,” noting she donated to Barack Obama’s campaigns, voted for him twice, and supported Michelle’s children’s fitness initiative.
Regarding the controversial repost, Chilli said she is “not very tech savvy” and accidentally hit the repost button while scrolling, as the buttons were close together. She emphasized that the content does not reflect her character or views.
The backlash has been intense on social media, with some fans expressing disappointment in the 1990s feminist icon. Comments ranged from shock (“Not Chilli!!! Oh God!!!”) to frustration over her past statements, including a previous “All Lives Matter” comment and a 2024 colorism debate where she preferred to be called “caramel” rather than “chocolate” when describing her skin tone.
TLC bandmate T-Boz (Tionne Watkins) has faced her own past scrutiny for appearing on Celebrity Apprentice with Trump in 2009, though she has publicly supported Black Lives Matter.
Salt from Salt-N-Pepa publicly encouraged Chilli to stay grounded amid the criticism.
For many longtime fans, the situation feels particularly disappointing given TLC’s legacy of empowerment anthems and their influence on generations. Others argue that individuals have the right to their political views and that small donations do not necessarily define an artist’s entire body of work.
As the “It’s Iconic” tour approaches, promoters and the group will likely monitor how the controversy affects ticket sales. Chilli has asked for grace while stating she has learned a valuable lesson from the experience.
The story highlights ongoing tensions between celebrity personal choices, political donations, and fan expectations in today’s polarized climate.
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