T-Boz Hospitalized After Sickle Cell Crisis, TLC Rep Confirms
By Alexus Mosley
Photo Credit: Getty Images
T-Boz is taking time to recover after a recent sickle cell crisis required hospitalization.
The TLC member, whose real name is Tionne Watkins, has missed recent dates on the It’s Iconic Tour with Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue as she focuses on regaining her strength.
In a statement shared with USA Today on Sept. 2, TLC’s team confirmed that T-Boz had experienced a sickle cell crisis and was recovering following her hospitalization.
While she has been away from the stage, Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas has continued performing with support from Salt-N-Pepa, En Vogue and fans in attendance.
Chilli also addressed T-Boz’s absence during an Aug. 28 tour stop in Connecticut, telling the audience that her longtime bandmate was dealing with a sickle cell episode but was doing better. She then asked the crowd to help “hold her down” for the night.
T-Boz was diagnosed with sickle cell disease at age 7 and has spoken openly over the years about how the condition has affected both her health and career.
In a 2017 interview with ABC News, she recalled being told as a child that she would not live past 30, would be disabled, and would never have children. Instead, she went on to become part of one of the best-selling girl groups of all time, tour the world, and build a family of her own.
Even at the height of TLC’s success, T-Boz has said sickle cell crises sometimes forced her to step away from work for weeks or months at a time.
For now, TLC’s team is asking fans to continue keeping her in their thoughts as she recovers.