Usher Reveals His First Celebrity Crush

It’s no secret that both Usher and Chilli have come a long way since breaking off their fling in 2004, but according to him, their love story started far before they even met. Essence recently named the R&B icon the “Sexiest Men of the Moment,” and as part of their spread, asked the hitmaker a few questions about his love life. During the interview, he admitted that his now-ex was actually his first-ever celebrity crush.

“Imma be real honest with y’all today,” he begins in a clip. “Chilli was my first celebrity crush. I think I was 11 or 12, something like that.” Fortunately for Usher, he got to meet Chilli in 1993, and went on to date her for three years before they split. Their breakup was long believed to have inspired his fourth studio album Confessions, which has since been debunked. Chilli revealed in 2013 that they parted ways simply because “it was that time or whatever,” shutting down rumors of any potential infidelity on his end.

Read More: How Many Times Has Usher Been Married?

Usher Says His Ex Chilli Was His First-Ever Crush

“We were together when he recorded that album,” she told Us Weekly. “All of those songs on Confessions, that was about Jermaine Dupri’s situation. Usher was just singing it. But people kind of bought into it, it was just the timing of our breakup when the album came out… So people assumed that album was about us, but it was not. And Usher and I weren’t oil and water. We broke up because I guess it was that time or whatever… He was that real love for me.

This isn’t the first time Usher revealed his early admiration for Chilli, however. Earlier this year, he told PEOPLE that he was smitten by the TLC performer at as young as eight years old. He recalled hanging her posted up on his wall as a child, hoping for the opportunity to one day meet her. “At the age of 8, I put her poster on my wall and said, ‘Man that girl is so beautiful. One day, I’m going to meet her,‘” he explained. Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

Read More: Usher Addresses Claim He Thanked The Devil During NAACP Image Awards: “Get The Hell Outta Here!”

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Chilli’s “Caramel” Comments Raise Colorism Debate On Social Media

It’s impossible to please everyone, but in the social media age, celebrities feel more pressure than ever before to remain politically correct and positive online. Should they choose to reveal any unsavoury opinions, or even have a bad day, flocks of criticism flood their comment section, resulting in even more headaches. TLC’s Chilli was reminded of this the hard way earlier this week when her response to a compliment rubbed thousands the wrong way. In a now-viral video, the singer and her man, Matthew Lawrence were showing off their choreography during a vacation in Jamaica, leaving viewers impressed with how in sync they are.

“Ok Matthew!! He got some chocolate now he got the moves!! I approve!!” one person innocently wrote beneath the actor’s post. “Caramel 😉🤩,” Chilli wrote back, suggesting she identifies with a lighter shade of brown than others see her. As people began reacting to this, the 52-year-old doubled down on her original statement. “Chocolate is beautiful also… Never said it wasn’t But without a tan, I’m caramel. What’s the harm in being truthful? Good grief,” she wrote back to a critic.

Read More: Rozanda “Chilli” Thomas Net Worth 2024: Updated Wealth Of The TLC Singer

Chilli’s Response to “Chocolate” Compliment Sparks Massive Debate

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by The Neighborhood Talk (@theneighborhoodtalk)

“It’s not the fact that she considers herself caramel,” one frustrated user explained beneath @theneighborhoodtalk’s post. “It’s the fact that she took the time to CORRECT the person who was obviously giving her a compliment 🥴🥴.” Another chimed in with their two cents, writing, “I really hate the spectrum of Black y’all tryna create, and it mainly stems in the Black community. [White] folks do not be talking ’bout, ‘I’m salmon pink,’ 🙄.”

Read More: Chilli Responds To Usher Over Rejected Marriage Proposal: Report

More Social Media Reactions

“Wasn’t Chilli the darkest out of TLC!?” another person asked, earning thousands of likes from more music lovers in agreement with them. Keep scrolling to read more online reactions to the “Waterfalls” hitmaker’s post, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.

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Usher & Chilli Relationship Timeline

In the symphony of celebrity romances, few stories resonated like the tale of Usher and Chilli. Neither of the two stars needs any introduction. Usher is essentially R&B royalty, while Chilli rose to fame as one-third of TLC, the best-selling American girl group of all time. Rewind to the early 2000s, a time when the R&B heartthrob and the enchanting TLC star embarked on a journey that would captivate the public’s hearts. Their relationship, marked by the highs of red carpet glamor and the lows of heart-wrenching rumors, unfolded against the backdrop of fame’s relentless spotlight. Let’s unravel the timeline of Usher and Chilli’s R&B love story.

2001: Usher & Chilli Begin Dating

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(EXCLUSIVE, Premium Rates Apply) Usher and Chilli of TLC (Photo by James Devaney/WireImage)

The pair first crossed paths in 1993, when both acts were signed under LaFace Records. However, it wasn’t until 2001 before the sparks began to fly. Soon after, Usher and Chili went public with their relationship, confirming the speculations swirling around them. Notably, the couple quickly gained widespread attention. They attended events like the Grammys together, and their chemistry was evident in their red carpet appearances. Fans celebrated the union of two musical powerhouses, creating a buzz around the pair. Although their separate musical ventures already propelled them to great fame, their romantic union made them one of the “it” couples of the early 2000s.

2003-2004: Stormy Clouds

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Chilli and Usher during The 45th Annual GRAMMY Awards – BMG After-Party – Arrivals at Gotham Hall in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by George Pimentel/WireImage)

The first two years were marked by public sightings and public affection. However, the couple faced challenges that tested the strength of their relationship. Speculations about Usher’s fidelity and the pressures of their respective careers began to take a toll. In 2003, the duo decided to part ways, leaving fans heartbroken and curious about the details behind their split. Moreover, the media scrutinized their every move, adding an extra layer of difficulty to the already challenging healing process. 

The couple’s love story bled into Usher’s music. The singer, known for infusing personal experiences into his lyrics, is still widely believed to have expressed his feelings for Chilli in songs like “Superstar,” which was part of his Confession album. On the album, Usher admits to several instances of infidelity, feeding the ravenous gossip-mongers.

However, in an interview promoting VH1’s biopic Crazy, Sexy, Cool: The TLC Story with US Weekly, Chilli cleared the air about Usher’s album being about her. “We were together when he recorded that album. All of those songs on Confessions, that was about Jermaine Dupri’s situation. Usher was just singing it. But people kind of bought into it, it was just the timing of our breakup when the album came out.”

2019: Chilli Calls It Quits With Usher (For Good This Time) 

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Usher and Chilli (Photo by Larry Busacca/WireImage)

After the breakup, both Usher and Chilli took time to reflect on their individual paths. Usher continued his successful music career, while Chilli focused on personal growth and her endeavors outside TLC. The years following their separation saw the former couple pursuing their passions and finding solace in their respective journeys.

The two were on and off for years, and Chilli maintained contact with her ex because she couldn’t find it in her to let him go. She eventually cut off contact with Usher for good in 2019, admitting to People that she wanted to focus on herself. “I even stopped dating. Because before that I thought if I met the right guy during that time that I wasn’t over [Usher] it wouldn’t work. I would never want to straddle the fence.”

Conclusion

The relationship between Usher and Chilli showcases the complexities of love in the spotlight. The public’s fascination with celebrity relationships, fueled by relentless media coverage, highlights these couples’ unique challenges. As we reflect on the love stories of the iconic couple, we are reminded that behind the glamor and fame, celebrities are individuals navigating the intricate dance of love, heartbreak, and self-discovery.

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TLC’s Chilli Is Going To Be A Grandma: Son Expecting First Baby + Reveals Fertility Struggle

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TLC singer Rozanda ‘Chilli’ Thomas is about to be a grandmother. In an Instagram post on Wednesday,  son, 26, revealed that he and his wife Jeong Ah Wang, are expecting a baby together.

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The couple also reflected on their long road to parenthood, sharing they were expecting their baby after undergoing IVF amid a lengthy infertility battle. Tron explained that Jeong went through two HSG procedures—imaging tests that are used to view the inside of the uterus and fallopian tubes, a hysteroscopy—an inspection of the uterine cavity by endoscopy, removal of both fallopian tubes and scar tissue from past hernia and appendicitis surgeries, an egg retrieval and a miscarriage before becoming pregnant with their daughter.

In his post, Troy included a photo of dozens of used syringes, plus a positive home pregnancy test and baby clothes bearing the words, “Made with a lot of faith and a little science.” He also shared a video of an ultrasound of their daughter, and a Christian Dior diaper bag.

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Tron wrote: WE ARE PREGNANT!! 👶🏻FINALLY WE CAN OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCE OUR DAUGHTER 🌙 LUNA WANG AUSTIN 🌙 will be here in March 2024! To my wife I am so proud of you witnessing you going through so much just to get our beautiful baby here I am in awe of your efforts and I am blessed and honored by Jesus himself to begin this journey with you I love you so much you are going to be the best mother EVER ! We came a long way 5 years later we are married and expecting our first child. loyalty goes a long way ❤️‍🔥🥰 She went through:
2 HSG procedures ,
1 hysteroscopy , removal of both tubes and scar tissue’s from hernia & appendicitis surgeries ,
1 egg retrieval,
1 miscarriage 🕊
And still stayed strong through the whole thing!#IVF has tested us and blessed us through a year and a half journey. We will be the best parents for our little one and we just cannot wait for her to be here 👶🏻🥰 🤰 P.S HAPPY 5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY BABY I hope you enjoy the diaper bag hehe😉👶🏻❤🐉
#pregnant#firstchild#ivfjourney#thankyoujesus

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The couple first met in 2018 and got engaged on Valentine’s Day in 2022.

Congratulations to the couple.

The post TLC’s Chilli Is Going To Be A Grandma: Son Expecting First Baby + Reveals Fertility Struggle first appeared on The Source.

The post TLC’s Chilli Is Going To Be A Grandma: Son Expecting First Baby + Reveals Fertility Struggle appeared first on The Source.

Kim Kardashian Shares Photo of North West Meeting R&B Legend Chilli From TLC

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When your mom is Kim Kardashian anything is possible.
Kim and Kanye’s oldest daughter North West got a chance to meet Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas of the iconic group TLC, and beamed with excitement.

The 10-year-old looked ecstatic in a series of snapshots her mom posted to Instagram on Sunday, in which she and Chilli appeared to be hanging out in their kitchen.

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North West and Chilli

In the pics, North is smiling as she shares a hug with the singer, and in one photo the pair pose together with North’s adorable puppies.

Kim, captioned the post, “Dreams do come true @therealchilli.”

North’s dream of getting to meet Chilli came true after she and her friends dressed up as the R&B group last Halloween.

In her slideshow post, Kim shared a promo photo of TLC, followed by a photo of North and two friends dressed like the bandmates — with North portraying Chilli.

While the post was super cute, Kim’s sister, Khloe Kardashian took to the comments to express her disappointment that she wasn’t invited over to say hi.

Khloe commented, “What!!!!! And you didn’t call me to come over!!!!!” Khloe wrote, later commenting, “Oh you’re in trouble.”

The post Kim Kardashian Shares Photo of North West Meeting R&B Legend Chilli From TLC first appeared on The Source.

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Chilli & Usher: TLC Singer Stayed In Contact With R&B Star During His Marriage

One of pop culture fanatics’ favourite couples to watch over the past year has been Chilli and Matthew Lawrence. The unexpected duo first got together in 2022, shortly after he finalized his divorce from professional dancer Cheryl Burke. It’s obvious that the TLC alum’s feelings for Lawrence run deep, as she previously shared that she would be happy to marry him. While Chilli is more in love than ever before since beginning her new relationship, she recently revealed to PEOPLE that it took years to get over one of her past loves.

Usher seems to be the “one that got away” for the “No Scrubs” songstress, though they apparently remained in contact up until 2019 – even while he was married. “I love hard. I was like, ‘God, why can’t I get over this?’ He couldn’t either,” she reflected to the outlet. Finally, Chilli got tired of repeating the same cycles and cut the Houston native off to “focus on [herself].” Not only did she quit Usher, but the 52-year-old “stopped dating” as a whole, proving how committed she was to her healing journey.

Read More: Chilli Reflects On “Amazing” Relationship With Matthew Lawrence

Chilli and Usher Have Plenty of History

Chilli and Usher during EMI Grammy Party Arrivals at The Blue Fin at The W Hotel in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/FilmMagic)

“Before that, I thought if I met the right guy during that time that I wasn’t over [Usher] it wouldn’t work. I would never want to straddle the fence,” Chilli added. Prior to going no contact, she and the Confessions hitmaker could find themselves back in each other’s lives during periods of being single.

While Chilli has been falling further in love with Matthew Lawrence, Usher has been living the dream during his Las Vegas residency. One of the most recent celebrity guests to get the up close and personal performance treatment from the vocalist is Baby Phat designer Kimora Lee Simmons. Read all about that at the link below, and check back later for more music/pop culture news updates.

Read More: Usher Gets Up Close & Personal With Kimora Lee Simmons During Las Vegas Residency

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Chilli Reveals She Hooked Up With Usher For Over A Decade Following Breakup

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For years fans hinted they wanted to see the reunion of one of their favorite celebrity couples. TLC songstress Chilli recey admitted that after breaking up with entertainer Usher Raymond in 2003, she quietly hooked up with him for years until breaking it off for good in 2019.

People Magazine report:

“I have never experienced anything like this,” she tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue, opening up about her happy life now with boyfriend Matthew Lawrence, 43, ahead of the premiere of Lifetime’s new documentary TLC Forever. It is the first high-profile relationship the singer, 52, has had since famously dating Usher from 2001-2004. “We definitely had some chemistry,” she says, when asked about her time with the R&B star. “But working chemistry does not mean it works in your personal life. If we were working, it was great. But outside of that, we’re so different.”

Noting how fans rooted for them as a couple, she says, “It looked great, but in real life … he knew he had to be a certain way with me and he couldn’t.”

While she denies rumors that his hit breakup album Confessions is about her (“I was with him at the studio that whole time”), the couple still wasn’t meant to be, she says due to differing values and trust issues. Still, they remained off and on for years, reconnecting when they weren’t in other relationships. “I love hard,” says Chilli. “I was like, ‘God, why can’t I get over this?’ He couldn’t either.” Leaning on her Christian faith, she eventually cut off contact for good in 2019 “to focus on myself,” she says. “I even stopped dating. Because before that I thought if I met the right guy during that time that I wasn’t over [Usher] it wouldn’t work. I would never want to straddle the fence.”

Fun Fact: Usher was married to Tameka Raymond from 2007 to 2009 and he was married to Grace Harry from 2015 to 2018.

Thoughts?

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TLC’s Chilli Swoons Over Romance With Matthew Lawrence: ‘There Is Nothing Fake About It’

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Last month, Chilli from TLC and Boy Meets World star Matthew Lawrence addressed rumors they were trying to have a baby after Matthew revealed he was ready for kids. Despite the questions and backlash from social media users—Chilli insists her romance is the real deal.

Page Six reports:

“It’s real and there is nothing fake about it,” the TLC singer, whose real name is Rozonda Thomas, told Page Six at the event. “I’m here with him because I wanna be and he wants to be. We’re just so happy, we really are.

“I honestly didn’t think that I would experience what I’m experiencing now and I was OK with that.”

The “No Scrubs” singer added that she was never someone who needed to be in a relationship.

“He has changed everything, the way I look at relationships. It’s so different,” she swooned.

However, Chilli declined to say whether a marriage was in the cards for the pair.

“We’re still in the beginning stages so we’ll see,” she said with a laugh.

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[WATCH] TLC’s Chilli Puts Hold On Baby Rumors: ‘We’re Not Married Yet’

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Since the word got out that Matthew Lawrence expressed hopes of having children with TLC Songstress, Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, fans have been looking out for any signs of a baby. With Chilli’s extensive list, fans wonder if there’s a man that can check every box off her list. While Lawrence has popped up in Instagram videos and beach vacations.when it comes to babies—Chilli says not so fast.

While attending the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards March 27, the ‘Waterfalls’ singer set the record straight on the timeline of her plans..

“First of all, we’re not currently trying to have a child,” she told E! News. “We’re not married yet so we’re just very happy and growing in our relationship.”

While she isn’t sure when babies will happen,, Chilli says this relationship is not your average romance.

“I’ve dated, but this cancelled out everything,” she shared before looking at her longtime friend Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins. “She knows.”

T-Boz went on to deliver her seal of approval of Chilli’s main man and even expressed hope that her close friend and “sister” will get married one day in the future.

“Matthew’s a special one,” she explained. “I know my sister so he’s special. Trust! Matthew, you better know.”

Earlier this month, the former Boy Meets World actor confirmed he has connected with Chilli’s 25-year-old son Tron, who she shares with ex Dallas Austin. When asked about having his own children one day, Matthew was optimistic.

“I hope,” he told Entertainment Tonight. “That’s the game plan. That’s what we’re trying to do.”

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TLC Singer Chilli Addresses Boyfriend Mathew Lawrence’s Baby Talk

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Last week actor Mathew Lawrence raised eyebrows when he walked back claims that he was trying to have a baby with his girlfriend Chilli from TLC.

Apparently Matt wasn’t talking about having a baby with Chili specifically but was referring to a childhood pact he made with his older brother actor Joey Lawrence.

Matt told E! TV’s Adrienne Bailon and Justin Sylvester:

“It’s such an interesting story. Joe and I were commiserating about this plan that we had to have children together when we were growing up. And I missed the first go around and now he’s starting a new family and I was thinking, ‘Man, it’d be great if we could do it again, when I didn’t have the chance to raise a family together.’”

“So that’s what I meant by that. I didn’t mean to put any pressure on somebody I was dating or anything.”

Chilli responded on the “Ryan Cameron Uncensored” radio show Friday. The TLC member siply said “you never know” about whether she would want to have kids with the “Boy Meets World” actor.

“I would never say that [I’m done with families],” she added after bursting into a fit of nervous laughter.

The singer, 52, also made it clear that she wants to be married before starting a family. However, it sounds like that could be happening in the near future as well.

“I gotta be married for sure … and I’m not married, yet,” she said cheekily.

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