Chilli Responds To The Backlash Over Her "All Lives Matter" Comments

(AllHipHop News) The surviving members of the R&B/Pop group TLC are currently on a press run to promote their self-titled comeback album.

While speaking with Channel 4 UK, TLC’s Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas responded to a question about the Black Lives Matter movement.

“I personally didn’t go to any marches or anything like that, but for me, all lives matter, you know what I mean?” said Chilli. “Because there is a time when different groups are targeted for different things, you know what I’m saying? So, I just think that just the whole what happened – police brutality – against these young black boys, all of that kind of stuff is wrong. Even if it was a Caucasian teen kid that this was happening to or whatever.”

The internet lit up as social media users blasted the singer for her statements.

So much so, that the backlash caused Chilli to disable the ability to leave comments on her Instagram posts.

The Shade Room received a statement from the 46-year-old Atlanta native, and she addressed the controversy.

“Of course Black Lives Matter and the killing of young black boys is heartbreaking to all of us,” Chilli stated. “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.”

The phrase “All Lives Matter” is viewed by many Black Lives Matter supporters as a dismissive response to BLM, because it promotes the idea that there should not be a focus on the issue of police brutality against black citizens because all lives matter, not just black lives.

In contrast, the Black Lives Matter movement tries to highlight the evidence which shows black lives do seem to matter less than white lives in the American criminal justice system.