Former En Vogue member Rhona Bennett is clapping back at the group’s comments to People about her departure from the group.
As we reported, En Vogue will be joining TLC for the upcoming “It’s Iconic” tour. During their promo trail Terry Ellis, Maxine Jones, and Cindy Herron, the members of the group, spoke to People about Bennett’s absence.
“There was a lot of going back and forth between attorneys, but we allowed her to continue to work even though it wasn’t signed yet, just giving grace,” Ellis told the mag about Bennett specifically.
“Next thing we know, we hear on social media that she left, she’s gone…She could be here, she chose not to be.”
After catching wind of the interview, Bennett made a lengthy statement posted on her social media on March 30, 2026, directly addressing Ellis’ comments.
“To be clear, I always prioritized En Vogue. I worked with them, in good faith, for the last 5 years or so without an operating agreement (contract) in place. And this was not the first time that a contract between us expired while I still worked for years and garnered trust. I, too, didn’t anticipate that we would part this way,” said Bennett on Monday.
She clarified that on November 11, 2025, her lawyer received formal notice that the contract offer had been withdrawn. Her public statement followed on November 13, 2025.
“Ellis says, ‘Next thing we know, we hear on social media that she left, she’s gone.’ This statement is misleading and does not represent what actually occurred. My lawyer received a formal notice from their lawyer that the contract they were offering had been withdrawn on November 11th. I have the email. My social media statement followed on November 13th. So, who walked away,” said Bennett.
Bennett concluded her post by emphasizing that her decision to leave was based on a series of reasons rather than a singular incident.
“I want to clarify that my departure was not the result of a disagreement over a specific performance,” she wrote. “For several months, our legal teams were engaged in contract negotiations. Ultimately, the terms presented were not aligned with my values or a level of mutual respect in the relationship. I never missed a show (except for a NY show that we ALL missed) over the course of the 13 years I was back, and my consistency and commitment to the work speaks for themselves.”
Bennett joined the lineup in 2003 after getting her start as a Mouseketeer alongside Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears. While its makeup has shifted over the years, En Vogue has remained a beloved fixture in Black music.