TLC singer Chilli has reportedly responded to a recent interview by ex-boyfriend Usher, who claims she rejected his marriage proposal and broke his heart.
The former superstar couple dated in the early 2000s before splitting in late 2004. While both have long since moved on, Usher claims their relationship left him “not trusting women or wanting to open up.”
He shed light on their romance during an interview with PEOPLE, published earlier this week, February 15.
However, the outlet claims a source close to Chilli stated the 52-year-old singer “is unbothered by the recent hoopla involving her past relationship.”
Usher was smitten with Chilli from a young age. “I was her No. 1 fan, and she was my superstar,” he said, referencing the “Superstar” lyrics.
“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.’ ”
Usher finally got the girls of his dreams, but things didn’t work out, and the pair split in 2004.
“I was a young man, and she had very specific rules that didn’t work for me,” Usher explained. “We were missing each other. I really did want to have a different type of relationship where she was there with me, and she couldn’t be. She didn’t believe that I was actually in love with her as much as I was.”
While he can admit “I hurt her too,” Usher claims the split “broke my heart.”
“I wanted to marry her,” he said, adding that she turned down his proposal. “I went through a great deal of pain after that, not trusting women or wanting to open up.”
Now, Usher is happy with his long-term girlfriend Jenn Goicoechea. He recently confirmed their secret Vegas wedding which took place on the same day he headlined the Super Bowl Halftime Show.
Meanwhile, Chilli is loved up with boyfriend, Matthew Lawrence. The couple recently shared photos from their Jamaica vacation, where they celebrated Lawrence’s birthday.