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Lauryn Hill is setting the record straight after fans expressed disappointment over her delayed headlining set at the 2025 Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans.
The Grammy-winning icon took the stage at Caesars Superdome in the early hours of Sunday morning (July 6), well past her scheduled 12:35 a.m. start time. She didn’t begin her performance until 2:30 a.m., eventually wrapping just after 3:30 a.m. — a delay that sparked chatter online about her punctuality.
On Tuesday (July 8), Ms. Hill responded directly to the criticism with a candid and detailed statement, emphasizing that behind-the-scenes production issues—not personal disregard—were to blame for the late start.
“This isn’t the first time production delays have impacted my show,” she wrote. “But this is the first time a promoter has publicly taken responsibility.” She thanked Essence Festival organizers for owning up to the issues, and made it clear she won’t continue allowing technical hiccups to be framed as her own fault.
Hill shared that she works “diligently” with her live band to rehearse and arrange every detail of her shows, while also being deeply involved in “every aspect of design, preparation, and production.” All of this, she said, is balanced with her roles as a parent, grandparent, and active member of her community.
Despite the heavy demands, the former Fugees member said she works “without complaint,” calling her performances a “labor of love” and a “great passion.”
Lauryn Hill also pushed back against a persistent narrative that she’s habitually late by choice, calling that notion “nonsense.” In her words, the idea that she’s casually lounging around while fans wait is completely false. “Anyone who’s been a part of these productions knows the opposite is true,” she added.
In her defense, Hill was only added to the festival’s lineup two days before the performance. The entire event reportedly faced timing shakeups due to logistical setbacks, and Essence organizers ultimately took responsibility for the schedule changes that pushed her set into the early morning hours.
Despite the chaos, Hill delivered a powerful performance — albeit to a somewhat smaller crowd — reminding fans why she remains one of music’s most revered live acts.
