BOY MEETS GIRL GROUP: INSIDE MATTHEW LAWRENCE’S TLC-APPROVED MASKED SINGER MOMENT
In a delightful fusion of ’90s nostalgia worlds, “Boy Meets World” alum Matthew Lawrence made his final appearance on “The Masked Singer” this week, captivating audiences with his surprisingly vulnerable performance of TLC’s iconic hit “Unpretty” before being unmasked as Paparazzo. In an exclusive conversation with PEOPLE following his elimination, Lawrence revealed the touching backstory behind his song selection—one that required special permission from none other than his girlfriend of three years, Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, and her TLC bandmate Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins.
“I had to ask them and get their approval,” Lawrence confided. “They had to give me approval, because Tionne, she wrote that song, so she had to give me personal [approval] and Fox approval.” The actor, clearly appreciative of the significance behind performing such a meaningful track, recounted his conversation with Watkins: “I was like, ‘Hey, you know that song you wrote about feeling unpretty? Do you think I could sing that on The Masked Singer?'”
Both TLC members proved wholeheartedly supportive, with Lawrence describing them—”obviously Chilli in particular”—as “so amazing.” The 45-year-old actor even received personalized vocal coaching from his superstar girlfriend. “She was so awesome, so supportive, she even gave me little critiques on how to sing it,” he shared, clearly moved by her involvement in his performance journey.
Remarkably, Lawrence’s connection to the 1999 hit predates his relationship with Chilli. When questioned by producers about potential “guilty pleasure” songs he might sing in the shower, Lawrence listed “Unpretty” somewhat jokingly, never imagining it would become his farewell performance. “When ‘Unpretty’ came out back in the day, that was one of those guilty pleasure songs I would sing in the shower. So I put that down as a joke, and of course, they chose it,” he explained.
Despite his brother Joey Lawrence having competed in the show’s eighth season, Matthew never envisioned himself following suit, largely due to a deep-seated fear of public singing stemming from a traumatic “Broadway audition in particular.” In fact, he admitted his brother’s participation “only further re-instilled that I was not going to do it.”
However, the actor’s current philosophy of embracing life’s challenges ultimately pushed him toward acceptance. “I’m in a point in my life now where I’m not allowing fear to kind of enter into things,” he reflected. “It’s also the season of yes, no no’s. So I really thought about it, and I was like, okay, you know what this is, this might just be an opportunity to get over a fear and I should take it.”
The risk has evidently transformed Lawrence’s relationship with performing. “I wish I hadn’t allowed fear to dictate my singing life as much. Because yeah, now I do kind of get that bug,” he confessed, hinting at newfound openness to musical opportunities.
Lawrence’s elimination leaves Pearl, Mad Scientist Monster, Nessy, Coral, and Boogie Woogie competing for the crown as the Season 11 competition intensifies under the watchful eyes of panelists Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy, Rita Ora, and Ken Jeong.
