Usher Talks About His Relationship With Chilli In New Podcast

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Usher is opening up more about his high-profile relationship with TLC’s Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas.

In his new podcast, The Last Showman on Audible, the 46-year-old music icon opened up about the deep connection he shared with Chilli during their relationship from 2001 to 2004. He revealed that this was the first relationship he truly wanted to make public, following a history of “flings and wild experiences” with women.  

The Grammy-winning singers first crossed paths after Usher admitted he had always admired Chilli, 53, and her band, TLC.

“I asked her to be the lead in my video and that kind of sparked the flame,” he shared. Chilli went on to star in Usher’s videos for hits like “U Remind Me,” “U Got It Bad,” and “U Don’t Have to Call.”

“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.”

Usher feared their privacy would be “shattered.”

Given the strength of their connection, Usher knew that fans and the media would inevitably have “questions and speculations” about their relationship, especially if they ever parted ways. At the time, social media didn’t exist, so the superstar singer felt a sense of relief, knowing he wouldn’t have to deal with the judgment or unsolicited opinions in comment sections. However, he was aware that their privacy would eventually be “shattered,” which happened when the couple ended their relationship in 2004.

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“People had theories. Rumors were running fast and furiously,” Usher revealed of the chaos surrounding their split. “Everyone was in search of answers,” the “YEAH!” hitmaker added, “And we were right at the cusp of seeing celebrity culture shift into something more invasive, more sinister.”

What caused Chilli and Usher’s breakup?

For years, fans speculated that Usher’s album Confessions was based on his relationship with Chilli. Although she denied the songs were about them, Chilli shared in a 2023 PEOPLE interview that while there was strong “chemistry” between them, it just wasn’t enough to sustain a long-term relationship.

“Working chemistry does not mean it works in your personal life. If we were working, it was great,” she said. “But outside of that, we’re so different.” Chilli continued, “It looked great but in real life … he knew he had to be a certain way with me and he couldn’t.”

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The R&B star revealed that she was in the studio the whole time with Usher as he was recording Confessions. However, she admitted that their relationship ultimately didn’t last due to differing values and trust issues. Even so, the couple’s bond remained strong, and they reconnected over the years whenever they weren’t involved with others.

“I love hard,” Chilli reflected. “I was like, ‘God, why can’t I get over this?’ He couldn’t either.” 

Eventually, leaning on her Christian faith, Chilli made the difficult decision to cut ties for good in 2019, choosing to focus on herself as she moved forward.

“I even stopped dating. Because before that I thought if I met the right guy during that time that I wasn’t over [Usher] it wouldn’t work. I would never want to straddle the fence,” the songstress revealed. 

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