Chilli Responds to Backlash Hurled at Her After Proclaiming ‘All Lives Matter’

TLC’s Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas was the center of controversy after she said “All lives matter,” and now she’s explaining what she meant.

Thomas recently responded to a question about her participation in the Black Lives Matter movement on the UK’s Channel 4 News by saying, “All lives matter because there’s a time when different groups are targeted for different things.

“I just think that just the whole … even with the police brutality against these young Black boys and stuff like that and, all of that kind of stuff is wrong,” she said. “Even if it was a Caucasian teen kid this was happening to, it’s just not right.”

Two days after the interview, Chilli clarified her comments, saying she realizes the importance of BLM.

“Of course Black lives matter and the killing of young Black boys is heartbreaking to all of us,” she said in a statement to The Shade Room Thursday, May 11. “Everyone knows I am a Black mother of a Black son, so there is no way I could watch what’s happening and not be affected.

“That video was from an interview in London asking me about issues happening in the U.S. My response was inclusive of everyone but not meant to undervalue the Black Lives Matter movement or to suggest police brutality against Blacks is acceptable.”

Twitter users weren’t satisfied by Chilli’s statement.

@papermagazine pic.twitter.com/1AdVgiFtuH

— kida wonder (@zurilibre) May 11, 2017

@Blavity nope, you said it. own it. and i hope ya album flop

— Kev (@Sayitaintkev) May 12, 2017