Two parts of the iconic 90s R&B trio TLC have remained close friends long after their group disbanded shortly after the death of Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes’ tragic death in 2002, and according to one of them, she has “never seen” the other so happy since news went public of a relationship with a childhood star.
In a recent red carpet interview, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins expressed that her bandmate turned sister Rozanda “Chilli” Thomas “is so happy” with her new beau, 90s heartthrob Matthew Lawrence.
“Take it from her sister,” T-Boz told PEOPLE at the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards. “Trust me — I’ve never seen her like this.”
Chilli agreed, stating that “I am ecstatic. He’s the best, and [T-Boz] approves,” she added jestingly.
In January, Shine My Crown reported that Chilli was diggin’ on a new beau, her rep Christal Jordan confirmed to the publication.
The Atlanta-born singer has been romantically linked with Lawrence, the popular actor who starred in Mrs. Doubtfire and Boys Meet World, for some months now.
The pair were first spotted together on a beach in Hawaii last August, and more recently, Chilli invited Lawrence to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with her family in Atlanta.
“I’ve been with Chilli since 2005 and I’ve never seen her this in love,” Jordan told PEOPLE. “She is glowing. They are really cute together.”
The couple went on Instagram to officially announce their relationship by posting a joint post of them dancing in matching PJs to A-ha’s Take on Me.
“This makes me very happy!!” Danielle Fishel, Lawrence’s former Boy Meets World co-star commented.
“I don’t know why this got my FEELINGS all stirred up. I do not keep up with either. But I LOVE this connection for y’all. Why does this make me so happy? All the best. Enjoy. Happy 2023,” wrote another commenter.
Chilli has been previously linked to soul crooner Usher, producer Dallas Austin and super featherweight boxer Floyd Mayweather, and starred in the VH1 2010 reality show, What Chilli Wants, which took fans on her journey to find love.
Lawrence is also part of a famous trio. His brothers Joey Lawrence and Andrew Lawrence are both known celebrities in Hollywood.
News of the couple seeing each other comes just months after Lawrence finalized his divorce from dancer Cheryl Burke. The Dancing with the Stars contestant filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences and listed their date of separation in January 2021. Lawrence and Burke were married for three years and shared no children.
