Usher Reflects On His Romance w/ Chilli & How Media Coverage Impacted Their Relationship: ‘Rumors Were Running Fast’

Usher Reflects On His Romance w/ Chilli & How Media Coverage Impacted Their Relationship: ‘Rumors Were Running Fast’

Usher is opening up about his past relationship with Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas and how intense media attention shaped their time together. ??

In an exclusive clip from Audible’s new Words + Music series, The Last Showman, obtained by PEOPLE, Usher recalls how their romance became a hot topic in the early 2000s.

“I had my share of flings and wild experiences with women that orbited my world, but every serious relationship I’d had up until that point, I didn’t know what it was like to be hounded by paparazzi whenever they left my house,” he shares. “And then, I met Rozonda.”
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The R&B legend says he had always admired Chilli and TLC, revealing that their connection sparked after he asked her to star in his music videos for “U Remind Me,” “U Got It Bad,” and “U Don’t Have to Call.” He continued:

“We spent time together, got to know each other, at some point I wanted to share with the public what I had found…This new feeling, it was something I appreciated. I was very proud of us and wanted the world to see the love blossoming between us.”

 

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But going public came at a price—constant speculation and scrutiny. He recalls,

“People had theories. Rumors were running fast and furiously.”

While social media wasn’t as dominant then, Usher acknowledges how invasive the media had already become. He adds:

“Everyone was in search of answers, and we were right at the cusp of seeing celebrity culture shift into something more invasive, more sinister.”

Chilli

Usher and Chilli dated from 2001 to 2004, with fans long speculating that his album Confessions was inspired by their breakup. Though Chilli denied this, Usher confirmed in an interview last year that the album’s storyline did reflect some of his real experiences, sharing:

“There is a great deal of truth in that album.”

After his Super Bowl Halftime performance last February, Usher opened up about proposing to Chilli—and how her rejection caused him “a great deal of pain” and led to years of distrust toward women.

Likewise, Chilli has acknowledged that while they definitely had “chemistry,” their personal lifestyles ultimately made them incompatible for a long-term relationship.

What are your thoughts?

[VIA]