Fans are sending well-wishes to TLC singer Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins after she was hospitalized during the group’s “It’s Iconic” tour.
A rep addressed T-Boz’s absence from recent shows in a statement posted Thursday, Sept. 3, on TLC’s official Instagram page, saying she had experienced a “sickle cell crisis.”
“We want to thank everyone who has reached out with prayers, love and concern for Tionne ‘T-Boz’ Watkins,” read the statement from the group’s manager, Bill Diggins. “As many people know, Tionne has lived with sickle cell disease throughout her life. When she experiences a sickle cell crisis, the recovery period can vary and may take days or weeks.”
Diggins added that T-Boz’s condition is not life-threatening and said she looks forward to returning to the tour once she is “medically cleared.”
Fans filled the post with comments and said they would keep the singer in their prayers. Meanwhile, bandmate Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas will continue performing.
T-Boz has previously said she was diagnosed with the illness as a child.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sickle cell is an inherited blood disorder. Flare-ups happen when “red blood cells become hard and sticky and get stuck in small blood vessels, resulting in pain and other serious complications.”
The disease affects about 100,000 people in the United States, and 90% are Black or African American.
TLC is on the road with Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue as part of their “It’s Iconic” R&B tour. The next scheduled performance is on Saturday night, Sept. 5, at the Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul. Ticketmaster lists TLC and Salt-N-Pepa on the lineup for the show.
Chilli addressed T-Boz’s absence on stage, during an Aug. 28 show at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
“As you guys know, my sister T-Boz, has sickle cell. That’s not a secret, and sometimes those flares come, and this is that time,” an emotional Chilli told the audience in videos posted by fans on TikTok.
“So, I’m going to hold it down for my sister, and I’m gonna ask each and every one of you to help me hold it down tonight, OK?” Chilli added.
TLC was formed in Atlanta in 1990. The Grammy Award-winning group has sold millions of records and topped the charts with hits including “Creep,” “Waterfalls,” “No Scrubs” and “Unpretty.” Original member Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes died in a car crash while visiting Honduras in 2002.
Read the full statement about T-Boz below:
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