Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas; Matthew Lawrence.Photo: Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty; John Shearer/WireImage for BWR Public Relations
Rozonda “Chilli” Thomasis sharing her total adoration for beauMatthew Lawrence.
“I love everything about him,” she says. “I love him and I like him, and that’s important. That is so important. You know what I mean? I like everything about him, every little thing.”
“I mean, he’s perfect for me,” she adds.
The “No Scrubs” singer also touched on their “very real” connection. “You know, isn’t that just the chemistry,” Chilli says. “It’s not forced. It’s real. You know? It’s very real.”
Lawrence, 43, and Chilli, 52,became involved romanticallyjust ahead ofThanksgiving2022 after they were previouslyphotographed on a beach in Hawaiithat August.
Rozonda “Chili” Thomas.Slaven Vlasic/FilmMagic
Chilli’s longtime rep Christal Jordan confirmed her client was dating Matthew in January in a statement to PEOPLE, saying, “I’ve been with Chilli since 2005 and I’ve never seen her this in love.”
“She is glowing. Theyare really cute together,” Jordan added at the time, further confirming that Lawrence and the “Waterfalls” singer spent Thanksgiving andChristmasin Atlanta, where the actor met Chilli’s family.
The two went Instagram official over New Year’s weekend, sharing a joint Instagram post that featured a video of themdancing in matching Christmas pajamas, in the style ofA-ha’s “Take on Me"music video.
“This makes me very happy!! ❤️❤️,” Matthew’s formerBoy Meets WorldcostarDanielle Fishelwrote in a comment.
Chilli also has the seal of approval from his brother Joey Lawrence, whotold PEOPLE last monththat Chilli is “cool as hell.”
“She’s great, a sweet person, super genuine, so warm and kind. And yeah, they’re just having a great time and it’s just good to see him happy and he makes her happy. So that’s all you can ever ask for,” he said.
Matthew Lawrence; Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas.Jim Smeal/Shutterstock; Amy Sussman/Getty
Both Chilli and Matthew are longtime stars who had their big breaks in the early 1990s — the former as part ofGrammy-winning R&B/hip-hop trio TLC alongsideTionne “T-Boz” Watkinsand the late Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes.
News of their relationship came just over three months after Matthew and exCheryl Burkefinalizedtheir divorce afternearly three years of marriage. Burke, 38,filed for divorce from Matthewin February, listing Jan. 7, 2022, as the official date of separation.
Chilli was previously in a long-term relationship withUsher, whom she went through a public breakup from in 2003. She has a 25-year-old son, Tron Austin, from a previous relationship with music producerDallas Austin.
RELATED VIDEO: Matthew Lawrence Breaks Silence on Divorce from Cheryl Burke as His ‘Life Is in Bloom’
Variety’s 2023 Power of Women event also honored Judy Blume, Natasha Lyonne, Rosie Perez,Kelly Ripaand Michaela Jaé Rodriguez.
All honorees and guests received gift bags inclusive of products from BOMBAS, goop, Kiehl’s, OUAI, Savage x Fenty, The Little Market and Victoria Beckham Beauty (among others).
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In her speech, Chili honored Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, who died in 2002 and was one of the founding members of TLC alongside Chili and Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins.
source: people.com
