Federal Election Commission records have revealed that Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, a prominent member of the iconic R&B group TLC, made several financial contributions to Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. These filings, scrutinised by The Independent, indicate donations directed towards Republican campaigns and associated entities.
The records identify a Rozonda Thomas residing in Stone Mountain, Georgia, an address publicly associated with the Grammy-winning artist, best known for TLC’s 1999 chart-topping hit “No Scrubs.” The contributions, totalling over $1000, were channelled through various platforms and organisations supporting the Republican party.
Specifically, the filings detail donations amounting to $210.60 made to WinRed, the primary payment processor for Republican campaign contributions. Further contributions include $340.60 directed to the Trump National Committee JFC, a joint fundraising committee, and $486.54 to Never Surrender Inc., a political fundraising group with known ties to Donald Trump. The Independent has reached out to TLC’s publicist for comment on these donations.
This revelation comes some years after Thomas faced public scrutiny for remarks made during a 2017 interview. When questioned about her stance on the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, she stated, “all lives matter.”
The “All Lives Matter” Controversy
The phrase “all lives matter” has, in recent years, become a widely recognised slogan adopted by right-wing groups as a counter-narrative to the Black Lives Matter movement. Critics argue that this slogan often serves to downplay or dismiss the specific issues of systemic racism, police brutality, and discrimination faced disproportionately by Black individuals in America.
During the 2017 interview with UK’s Channel 4 News, Thomas elaborated on her perspective. “I personally didn’t go to any marches or anything like that,” she explained. “For me, all lives matter, you know what I mean?” She continued by acknowledging that different groups can be targeted for various reasons.
“So I just think that what happened, even with the police brutality against these young Black boys and stuff like that — all of that kind of stuff is wrong,” Thomas stated. “Even if it was a caucasian teen kid that this was happening to, it’s just not right. And some people will take that authoritative position and go crazy with it, obviously. I think that before people are hired in these positions, they need to do 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.”
Bandmate’s Perspective on Trump
When asked about her experiences as a Black woman living in what was then described as “Trump’s America,” Thomas’s TLC bandmate, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, offered a different viewpoint. Watkins expressed disinterest in Donald Trump himself, stating, “I don’t care about Donald Trump. I mean, God is my president. So I just feel sorry for people it affects, but I don’t care about him.”
A Legacy of Music and Loss
TLC, a group that achieved immense global success, was formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1990. The trio’s most celebrated line-up consisted of Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, and the late Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes.
The group’s trajectory was profoundly impacted by the tragic passing of Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes in a car accident in 2002. Lopes was on a humanitarian trip to Honduras at the time, volunteering at a children’s development centre. Her death marked the end of an era for the beloved musical group.
