When TLC members Rozanda Chili Thomas and Tionne T-Boz Watkins announced their “It’s Iconic” tour with Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue, fans expected to see both members for the entire tour.
But recent events have pulled one member away from the stage, leaving the other to represent the once-trio group solo.
The North American tour started Aug. 15 in Tennessee and recently wrapped on Oct. 11 in California.
During the third-to-last performance, Chili shared an update about her partner T-Boz, who hasn’t been able to join her onstage in weeks.
At their Oct. 9 stop in Las Vegas, Chili told the audience that T-Boz has been away due to health complications she’s had from sickle cell.
In the announcement, she said, “Some of you may not know that my group member, T-Boz, has sickle cell disease. Sometimes, you have a crisis, and she did this time. She’s taking the very necessary time that she needs to get back to 100 percent.”
Chili paused and said, “Thank you,” as the audience cheered for her group member.
When the crowd slightly settled, she said, “And I’m going to continue to hold it down for my sister tonight. And I’m going to ask each and every one of you to help me hold it down for her tonight.”
Chili’s brief speech is similar to the ones she’s given at several other shows T-Boz has missed on this tour.
According to several outlets, T-Boz has missed several shows since Aug. 28, meaning she appeared in the first seven shows.
Days after missing the first performance, Christal Jordan, a rep for TLC, told Atlanta Black Star that she was hospitalized and recovering.
“Tionne recently experienced a sickle cell crisis that required hospitalization, and she is currently recovering and regaining her strength,” she said in a statement.
She added, “The love shown for T-Boz has been overwhelming. Hearing audiences sing her parts, lift her up in prayer, and surround TLC with so much love has meant more than we can express.”
Jordan asked everyone to keep praying for T-Boz as she recovers. Fans responded to Chili’s announcement with concern for T-Boz.
One reflecting on TLC’s former member Left Eye wrote, “We already lost Left eye I’m not dealing with another loss.”
Lisa “Left Eye” Lopez died in 2002 from a fatal car crash in Honduras.
A second fan hoping for T-Boz to make a full recovery said, “Prayers go out to TBoz.”
Another fan who seems familiar with T-Boz’s health issues commented, “She been fighting from day one. I pray she gets well soon.”
T-Boz has not made a single post since Aug. 24, when she shared a selfie.
The now 56-year-old has been dealing with sickle cell disease since age 7 when she was diagnosed. During the many times that she has opened up about sickle cell, she also revealed that doctors projected that she would not live past 30.
According to the CDC website, “Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of inherited blood disorders. Abnormal hemoglobin is produced.”
There are several types of sickle cell, and symptoms include chronic pain, fatigue, fever and more.
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