Why Rozonda ‘Chilli’ Thomas and Usher Chose Not to Marry Despite Their Relationship (Exclusive)

Chili Never Married Usher Because She Was Scared They Would Have Ended Up Divorced 101

Chili, Usher. Getty Images (2)

Rozonda ‘Chilli’ Thomas understood that her relationship with Usher was not meant to last forever. Although Usher has revealed that he was devastated when the TLC singer, 53, rejected his proposal in the early 2000s, an insider exclusively tells us that fans are unaware of the true story behind their romance.

Many people were disappointed with Chilli when Usher revealed that she rejected his proposal. However, according to an insider, there is more to the story. It is widely known that she truly loved him, but she held the belief that marriage is sacred and did not want to risk getting divorced.

The source explained that Chilli had a strong feeling that their relationship would not have lasted and would have ended in divorce, given the state it was in at that time. For the singer of "Waterfalls," this would have been an even more heartbreaking outcome.

Chilli and Usher first met in 1993 but didn't start dating until almost ten years later. They officially became a couple in 2001 and stayed together for three years before breaking up in 2004.

Earlier this year, Usher shared that he had hoped to take their relationship to the next level by proposing to Chilli. Unfortunately, she turned down his proposal. In an interview with People in February, Usher admitted that the rejection caused him a lot of pain and made him hesitant to trust or open up to women. It was a heartbreaking experience for him.

After their breakup, Usher released the album Confessions. Many people thought the songs about cheating were based on his relationship with Chilli. Songwriter Jermaine Dupre added to the gossip by saying Usher's personal life influenced the music.

But Chilli set the record straight, saying the album was not about their romance. She also mentioned that they were still a couple when the album was being made.

Chili Never Married Usher Because She Was Scared They Would Have ‘Ended Up Divorced’ 102

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In an exclusive interview with Us in 2013, she revealed that all the songs on Confessions were actually about Jermaine Dupri's situation. Usher was just the one singing them. Despite this, many people believed the album was about their breakup due to the timing.

She went on to clarify that the album was not about their relationship and that Usher and her were not incompatible. Their breakup simply happened because it was the right time. She expressed that Usher was a significant love in her life.

Chilli revealed that even though she ended their relationship, she and the singer stayed in touch over the years. However, in 2019, she decided to cut off all communication to prioritize herself.

She shared with People in June 2023 that she even took a break from dating during that time. Chilli believed that if she hadn't fully moved on from Usher, meeting someone new wouldn't have been successful. She emphasized that she wanted to focus on herself without being in a state of uncertainty.

Usher and Chilli have both moved on from their past relationships. Usher got married to Tameka Foster in 2007 and they had two children together before separating in 2009. He later married Grace Miguel from 2015 to 2018, and is now in a relationship with Jenn Goicoechea. They welcomed two children in 2020 and 2021.

On the other hand, Chilli found love with Matthew Lawrence in November 2022. When asked in May 2023 if she sees him as her "forever partner," Chilli expressed certainty, saying, "For sure."

Lawrence's relationship with her son, Tron, 25, whom she shares with ex Dallas Austin, is also wonderful. She mentioned, "Everybody gets along. My son approves. I mean, it's all great." Reporting by Sarah Jones.

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Chilli and Usher