Matthew Lawrence apologized for saying he wanted kids with his unwed girlfriend, TLC singer Rozonda “Chlli” Thomas, 52.
Matthew, 43, is eager to have children following his 2022 divorce from wife of three years, Cheryl Burke, veteran dancer on Dancing With the Stars.
The “Brotherly Love” star told Entertainment Tonight that he and Chilli wanted to raise a family. But he didn’t mention putting a ring on it first.
Chilli privately told friends she was insulted, which resulted in Matthew apologizing profusely to her.
Chilli is old school. She wants a man to marry her before fathering children with her. Younger guys don’t realize how important a ring is to an older woman.
So, Matthew clarified in a new interview with E! News that he “didn’t mean to put any pressure” on the singer, or treat her like an unwed baby mama.
“It’s such an interesting story. Joe and I were commiserating about this plan that we had to have children together … when we were growing up,” he said of older brother Joey Lawrence (right). “And I missed the first go around and now he’s starting a new family and I was thinking, ‘Man, it’d be great if we could do it again, when I didn’t have the chance to raise a family together.’ ”
“So that’s what I meant by that. I didn’t mean to put any pressure on somebody I was dating or anything,” he explained.
Chilli shares 25-year-old son Tron Austin with retired music producer Dallas Austin.
Matthew said he bumped into Chilli at the Atlanta airport while on a layover between planes. They talked on the phone for 6 months before dating seriously late last year. Their relationship was confirmed to PEOPLE in January 2023.
