TLC’s T-Boz files for bankruptcy protection again
Tionne Watkins in 2009 when she appeared on NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice." CREDIT: NBC
This is not crazy, sexy or cool: Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins of Atlanta’s TLC last month filed for bankruptcy protection for a second time in less than a year.
Watkins, 41, entered a similar bankruptcy protection filing with the United States Bankruptcy Court of Northern District of Georgia in February. It was dismissed the next month.
Her attorney Peter Bricks Monday declined to comment.
TMZ broke the news. We looked at the Duluth resident’s bankruptcy filing and gleaned that her problems are not exorbitant spending but a relative lack of income:
- Her total assets are $1.716 million, mostly her property. Her liabilities total $768,642.99, mostly her mortgage. (Her claimed assets in her February filing were $1.892 million and liabilities $742,258.52.)
- The filing says her monthly income is averaging $11,700, $1,200 from royalties tied to her days with TLC. Her estimated monthly expenses are $8,821, $5,170 of that from the mortgage alone. But in 2011 through the end of October, she reported her income from employment or operation of business totaled a mere $14,000.
- Her property is worth $1.2 million, the documents say. She owes $740,470.03. Cash on hand? $1,000. Various household goods are valued at $100,000. Clothing: $75,000. Jewelry: $20,000. Exercise equipment: $2,500. Three vehicles (a 2001 Escalade, 2005 Odyssey and 2006 Mercedes Benz CLS 500) worth a combined $45,500.
- She is claiming Mark Jefferson owes her $22,500 and her ex-husband Mack 10 owes her $250,000 in child-support payments. (She has an 11-year-old daughter with Mack 10.)
- She valued ownership of various companies and royalties at a mere $1 apiece.
- She is in arrears $105,000 on a $577,000 primary mortgage and $3,400 on a $153,000 second mortgage on her home. She owes $8,284.75 on her Honda Odyssey and $2,850 on her Mercedes.
- She conducted two estate sales in September and October 2011 and pocketed $11,000.
Since her February filing, she has increased her mortgage load from $704,548.52 to $740,470.03 on October 31, 2011.
Watkins has suffered from major medical problems over the years. She has suffered from Sickle Cell Disease and in 2006 was diagnosed with a brain tumor, which has been treated. In 2009, she appeared on NBC’s “Celebrity Apprentice.” She lasted six episodes and raised $20,000 for the Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia.
She filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy protection, which enables people with regular income to develop a plan to repay part of all of their debts.
According to Zillow, her home is six bedrooms, six and a half bathrooms and has 9,654 square feet. It values the home at $960,100, significantly less than what Watkins claims in her filing but more than what she owes with her two mortgages. It was built in 2000 and last sold on October 9, 2011 for $1,122,700, according to Zillow.
According to Lexis/Nexis, she was living in Woodland Hills, Calif. as recently as October, 2011 but has owned her current Duluth property since 2001.
She put the house up for sale for $1.25 million in September, 2009 but withdrew the property for sale a year later, according to Zillow.
Watkins and her TLC mates in 1995 files for bankruptcy protection as well but that was when the group was generating a huge amount of income. At the time, Watkins’ sickle cell problems had forced the trio to cut short a tour.
By Rodney Ho for the Buzz
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132 comments Add your comment
TBoz Fan
November 29th, 2011
7:59 am
Keep your head up Tionne. Your fans still love you and feel bad that you’re having tough times. Take care.
Shawn
November 29th, 2011
8:09 am
Keep in mind that there are not many folks that find themselves exempt from the recession that we are in. Any major illness such as the one T-Boz has, greatly affects your income,expenses and potential income. T-Boz appears to be a very level headed, single mother attempting to provide a decent lifestyle for her child and herself. T-Boz – keep your head up !! God is faithful .
OH SHUT UP!
November 29th, 2011
8:10 am
Shut up Monica. People can clearly see that it’s $8,274.75. It has been corrected. Before, it did read $82k. Stop trying to make other people feel dumb in order to boost your own confidence. Just sayin.
tootie
November 29th, 2011
8:26 am
keep your head up, my prayers are with you Cuz! NO Matter What People Say! Because
everybody is always going to buy your music.
quake
November 29th, 2011
8:30 am
“Bonquiffa…” quit hiding your racist a– behind some wierd dialectical writing you hope would represent a black person’s pattern of speech. Its amazing how small minded you show yourself to be. What you prove, sir , is that you are a pin-headed, racist coward with the intellect of the in-bred lunatic that you are.
joe white
November 29th, 2011
8:31 am
I dont feel sorry for her.Hell there are alot of people out her living on the streets, she needs to live within her means or get a job.I love tlc to death but hell I work two jobs to take care of my three kids then myself put mac 10 on childsupport casue if he is not giving money he for sure is not spending time with his child.
SHAKING MY HEAD
November 29th, 2011
8:31 am
Please tell me why did all of her business have to be known. So what she is a celebrity,she still is a person and deserves privacy in her time of crisis…not cool at all. Especially putting her daughter’s name out there.
Shay
November 29th, 2011
8:34 am
People are so ignorant. I only wish that I had the money to help her. You never know what life has in store for you. Be kind!
JM
November 29th, 2011
8:35 am
If her home was last sold on October 9, 2011, why does she still owe on it? Who did she sell it to?
Be Informed
November 29th, 2011
8:42 am
First, those tripping over the fact that her daughter’s name was mentioned need to know something. T-Boz had her daughter on a show a few years back and not only mentioned her name but showed her house and her daughter’s room. She put it out there already. Second, bankruptcy filings are public. You, me and anyone else can see everything in this article if you took the time to look for it.
FLReader
November 29th, 2011
8:53 am
I’m one hundred percent against saying she filed because she didnt get child support. If you didnt have the money, you shouldnt be spending it. Downgrade to a smaller house and own one car. Thats what us non-celebrities do.
Ron Burgundy
November 29th, 2011
9:09 am
Let T Boz be a lesson to all of you thinking of marrying a guy named Mack 10.
Can you envision their wedding?
“Do you Mack 10 take T-Boz to be your lawful wedded wife….”
Ron Burgundy
November 29th, 2011
9:10 am
She should never have chased those waterfalls. I hope she ain’t too proud to beg.
Bonquiffa Shanita Jackson
November 29th, 2011
9:11 am
@Quake – man iz gunna bus a cap in you azz if’n you evah git en my grill. No whut iz sayin?
Translation into english – “I respectfully disagree!”
Racism is alive and well in Blacklanta. No Caucasian news here people…move along.
cwilli
November 29th, 2011
9:15 am
God speed to your health T’Boz, hopefully you will get your financial affairs in order. When one is not educated to the point of not knowing how to handle your finances especially when you are in the entertainment business you should hire a advisor one with a track record one that comes with recommendations. I wish you and your family well, but you need to take the father of your child to court stop feeling sorry for him and stop letting him fill your head with that bull tell him to pay up or go to jail.
Nikki
November 29th, 2011
9:16 am
Gosh! Why does the media insist on telling us this stuff?! It wouldn’t have made one difference n our lives had we not known. Bankrupcy is hard going through it in private. T-Boz has to do it publicly now.
Bonquiffa Shanita Jackson
November 29th, 2011
9:19 am
@ Quake – when was the last time you rode MARTA? If you ever did, your comment regarding “some wierd dialectical writing you hope would represent a black person’s pattern of speech” shows you are in denial. “no whut iz sayin?” Shows you are the racist.
Pandora
November 29th, 2011
9:20 am
Tony the Crat…NO She owes $8,284.75 on her Honda Odyssey and $2,850 on her Mercedes….at any rate this is really sad. It’s a shame how Mac 10 is NOT paying child support. He is a darn deadbeat…I love TLC. I’ve met T-Boz before she became famous and she is really a sweet person. It saddens me that she is going through all of this.
My prayers are with her. I think she should just let them forecolse on her Duluth home and she should just move into a much smaller house. Maybe a 3 bdr and 3.5 bath room home. It’s just her and her daughter. I also think she need to get rid of 2 of those vehicles. A person can only drive 1 at a time. That’s just my opinon.
It’s a shame how LaFace Records ripped ALL of TLC off. I pray that she releases another album soon or something. So much talent that isn’t being utilized. I didn’t realize that she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Thank God that’s under control.
I love you T-Boz. My prayers are with you and your family.
God Bless You 
Ron Burgundy
November 29th, 2011
9:21 am
Not paying bills is not crazy sexy or cool!
carla roqs
November 29th, 2011
9:29 am
rodney, please remove her daughter’s name– no fair.
carla roqs
November 29th, 2011
9:32 am
jennifer? come on– why did i think rodney had written this? maybe from the comments. please remove the child’s name, jennifer.
DD
November 29th, 2011
9:37 am
Keep your head up T-Boz. You have been through an incredible journey. LOOSE THE HOUSE. It’s dragging your finances down. You can buy something simple CASH and kick it on your nice yearly income!
Stay positive. We love you!
Q
Ron Burgundy
November 29th, 2011
9:37 am
WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE MOVE THE CHILDS NAME!!! I AM OUTRAGED AND TYPING IN CAPS….THIS CHILD IS INNOCENT!!!
LOUD NOISES!!!
Dumb Dumb and Dumber
November 29th, 2011
9:50 am
The childs name is Chase Aneila Rolison
Bobby
November 29th, 2011
9:55 am
You guys give her sympathy but when she files for bankruptcy, she gets a bailout, the banks get a bailout, and we the taxpayer get to keep our 9-5 if we’re lucky so we can pay for the next celebrity to bail out through our taxes. I’m glad she gets to keep the mansion and the benz. Heaven forbid she have to live in a modest 3 bedroom . Just like Toni Braxton. I’ve gotta get to work, these celebrities need our help. I hopes her credits stays good. lol
Monica
November 29th, 2011
9:56 am
Hang in there Rodney.
jessse
November 29th, 2011
10:02 am
GIVE IT TO GOD IN PRAYER KEEP THE FAITH
Firstlady
November 29th, 2011
10:22 am
It’s time to sell some of those cars (all 3 are not needed) & hold another estate sale/auction. What’s Mack 10’s hold up on paying this child support (COME DAD)?!?!?! Good luck T-Boz…still Cool!!
Shantelle
November 29th, 2011
10:24 am
I agree with some of the other comments…are you SERIOUS, this is NEWS??? The media needs to stay the heck out of her business. So what if she files for bankruptcy? Our government and many of these big businesses are in debt !!! It doesnt make sense how they just broke down off of her financial business on display to the public !!! TBoz will be fine (after all she still has more money than the rest of us !!) and she will have it good for the rest of her LIFE !!!
anonymous
November 29th, 2011
10:42 am
this is “news” because you people are NOSY and WANT to know everything. you savor every little gossipy bit, don’t cha? and you LIKE it!
And the INSTANT you click off this page, you will FORGET that she even has a little girl, let alone remember, think about, or even CARE that she has a child.
go back to you overweight eating, driking, smoking, idling little lives!
sheeesh!
anonymous
November 29th, 2011
10:43 am
I meant to say let alone remember the child’s NAME!
daringvixen
November 29th, 2011
10:45 am
Tionne, (TBOZ)you were and always be an inspiration to me. The Creator blessed with your talent and will surely see you through this. Keep on keeping on Girlfriend and trust and believe that this too shall soon pass. One love from one of your biggest fans!!!
Manny
November 29th, 2011
10:55 am
The funny thing is that some people are going through the same issues as she is, but the numbers are smaller. I mean if you are declaring bankruptcy on a $150k house and owe $5k on a Ford because you got laid off of work, why are you harping on this lady just because the house is bigger and the cars are nicer? This is just a lady going through hard economic times, just like many of us are in the US.
It would be different if she makes $150k a year, but can’t afford her Mercedes and that 2nd home in Florida- but you can’t afford to live anywhere in the US on $11k a year.
Manny
November 29th, 2011
10:57 am
Back up… $11k per Month? I thought it was per year!
Sell the house and sell the cars and you’ll be fine. This isn’t really that big of a story.
chuck dobbins
November 29th, 2011
10:58 am
hey good luck tboz everything will be ok you have life that all that matters the rest will fall in place.
your friend 4 life chuck i was your personal chef when u were with devon peace ma
carla roqs
November 29th, 2011
11:08 am
okay, ive got it now. rodney wrote this under jennifer’s column. dang #confused. but that child’s name needs to be removed.
Chris
November 29th, 2011
11:14 am
I just wish her and her daughter well, anyone could be in that position so I wouldn’t throw stones.
carla roqs
November 29th, 2011
11:20 am
THANK YOU!!
Mzsan
November 29th, 2011
11:21 am
Hang in there Tionne and do what you need to do. Continue to hold your head up and stay faithful. Rodney WHY did you have to mention her child in this article?!! That’s a real HO move. Once a HO always a HO!!
BG
November 29th, 2011
11:23 am
Sounds like her baby daddy needs to pay up. LMAO!
TCB
November 29th, 2011
11:31 am
I met T-Boz a few years ago very down to earth person and I wish well.I had brain tumor myself removed this year, life happens to us all..just keep living…
Monique
November 29th, 2011
11:40 am
It is sad that so many pepple are looking down on her. These people as one of you put it are still people like many of us with real issues. She like many of us did not think she would not get sick. Peoplw being sick with an illness cost money if you didn’t know this already. Ahiw some compassion and empathy and pray for her that she will be heald. Cause you never know what tomorrow may bring to you. In this economy no one is exempt from trouble and trials. Encouragement is what she and everyone need not hateful words. Just remember what you sowe towards others is what you will rrecieve back.
SAWB
November 29th, 2011
11:55 am
Maybe she could get TI to give her a part in the new movie “The ATL II: Rashad’s Revenge” as the Grandmother of Big Booty Judy. Then after she wins an Academy Award for her superb acting she will have plenty of Benjamins.
However, she could take responsibility for her actions and find away to meet he financial obligations.
I suspect the first option is a lot more likely.
T-Boz files for bankruptcy protection – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Cool Jewelry
November 29th, 2011
12:25 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
artb
November 29th, 2011
12:32 pm
Come on Tionne, get it together. $75,000 on clothes?
gracwalk
November 29th, 2011
12:43 pm
People are complaining about T-Boz, look at Donald Trump, who filed for bankruptcy (4) times.
Inc Hulk
November 29th, 2011
12:49 pm
No Joke this is what Obama’s health plan is about. Most Bankruptcys are caused by medical bills and that’s even if you have Health Insurance. Which I think may be not or unable to be purchased due to a preexisiting condition. So with Cancer and sinkle cell and without adequate insurance or income…….her bankruptcy could happen to any of us unless you Bill Gates, Warren Buffet or have adequate income in additon to Health Insurance, Disability Insurance or Aflac (helps with the ongoing bills). Cancer treatment can easily cost in th emillions especially if you pay out of pocket. So what mat seem like a lot of money to most of us 1-5 million dollars and one- two major Illnesses that money can be eaten up as quick as it was made. Trust me Good Health is worth millions of dollars, because it allows you to work and make the income to pay your bills, yet not spend your savings which continue to grow tax free if in a 401k or IRA and taxed in a savings account. My wife and I are millionares she at 41 ,we are not entertainers,athletes,stockbrokers, salespeople or any high dollar jobs. We are college educated, I can’t tell you what the #1 Video is right now on BET, but I can pay for a Rolls Royce Cash! ( I would never do it, draws too much attention) Work hard, keep your weight down, Never Loan money give advice…if you have good advice to give .Give a man a fish he eats for a day…Teach a man to fish he eats for a lifetime…Anyone Hungry? God Bless you all.
Jack Nasty
November 29th, 2011
12:56 pm
A house that is over 9,000 square feet is nothing but a burden. Especially for someone with health issues. The upkeep must be costing her a fortune. That’s too much house for two people.
truthbtold
November 29th, 2011
1:03 pm
@ Dee & Pryncess – You must first remember that truly wealthy people have wealth. Most Entertainers in the music business have image wealth. The industry paints this picture of enormous wealth to give an image to artists. Now TLC was the biggest selling female group of all time with millions of records sold, and this artist gets $1,200 per month from all of those sales? Rhianna is the hottest act out there and she is having financial problems also. Most, simply don’t do the math. Very few artists go platinum today (1 million copies sold). If you go platinum and got $1 out of every cd sold – you’d start out with a million dollars – then 20% to your Manager, and 30% to taxes. Deduct costs for promotion and marketing, and entourage costs and incidentals – you may actually pocket $250K if you’re lucky. Then you go out balling on jewelry, cars, clothes, trips, and expensive homes and you are a normal working stiff with a ton of debt, a lot of fame, and a lot of stress! And that’s platinum selling artists………All those wannabes should be forewarned.
Melanie
November 29th, 2011
1:34 pm
@sassyone and aklawson, where in the article do they mention her daughter’s name? I have looked but I cannot find it. I see where they mention her age, buy not her name.