Chilli and Usher in 2002.Photo:Evan Agostini/ImageDirectRozonda “Chilli” Thomascouldn’t be happierin lifeandin lovethese days.“I have never experienced anything like this,” she tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue, opening up abouther happy life nowwith boyfriendMatthew Lawrence, 43, ahead of the premiere ofLifetime’s new documentaryTLC Forever.It is the first high-profile relationship the singer, 52, has had since famously datingUsherfrom 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.“Chilli.Dayo x ChilliNoting 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 albumConfessionsis 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.“Matthew Lawrence and Chilli.Randy Shropshire/GettyWhen it comes to her ex, “I have no hard feelings,” she tells PEOPLE. It all helped prepare her for Lawrence, the love of her life. “He wants to be the best guy he can be and who God wants him to be,” she says. “God-willing one day we’ll get married.“For more on Chilli’s TLC journey and life now, pick up this week’s issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands everywhere Friday.TLC Foreverairs June 3 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Lifetime.
Chilli and Usher in 2002.Photo:Evan Agostini/ImageDirect
Evan Agostini/ImageDirect
Rozonda “Chilli” Thomascouldn’t be happierin lifeandin lovethese days.“I have never experienced anything like this,” she tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue, opening up abouther happy life nowwith boyfriendMatthew Lawrence, 43, ahead of the premiere ofLifetime’s new documentaryTLC Forever.It is the first high-profile relationship the singer, 52, has had since famously datingUsherfrom 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.“Chilli.Dayo x ChilliNoting 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 albumConfessionsis 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.“Matthew Lawrence and Chilli.Randy Shropshire/GettyWhen it comes to her ex, “I have no hard feelings,” she tells PEOPLE. It all helped prepare her for Lawrence, the love of her life. “He wants to be the best guy he can be and who God wants him to be,” she says. “God-willing one day we’ll get married.“For more on Chilli’s TLC journey and life now, pick up this week’s issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands everywhere Friday.TLC Foreverairs June 3 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Lifetime.
Rozonda “Chilli” Thomascouldn’t be happierin lifeandin lovethese days.
“I have never experienced anything like this,” she tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue, opening up abouther happy life nowwith boyfriendMatthew Lawrence, 43, ahead of the premiere ofLifetime’s new documentaryTLC Forever.
It is the first high-profile relationship the singer, 52, has had since famously datingUsherfrom 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.”
Chilli.Dayo x Chilli
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 albumConfessionsis 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.”
Matthew Lawrence and Chilli.Randy Shropshire/Getty
Randy Shropshire/Getty
When it comes to her ex, “I have no hard feelings,” she tells PEOPLE. It all helped prepare her for Lawrence, the love of her life. “He wants to be the best guy he can be and who God wants him to be,” she says. “God-willing one day we’ll get married.”
For more on Chilli’s TLC journey and life now, pick up this week’s issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands everywhere Friday.
TLC Foreverairs June 3 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Lifetime.
source: people.com
