Lauryn Hill is speaking out after some internet users believed she was late for her recent performance at Essence Fest.
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Lauryn Hill speaks out after some internet users believed she was late for her recent Essence Fest performance
On Tuesday, July 8th, Hill took to Instagram to share a text post with a statement to her over 1.4 million followers. In the post, Hill thanked Essence for “clarifying that the delays” were not her fault. She went on to say that she is involved in every aspect of her shows. She also stated that she maintains this involvement to protect the “integrity” of her “message” and “the quality” of what she does.
“…there seems to be a misconception out there that I’m somewhere in the Rivera with my feet up… showing up to shows whenever I want because I’m too important to care. That’s absurd,” she said in part. “…this isn’t the first time production delays have delayed my performances. However, it is the first time a promoter has acknowledged the slip-up on their end (thanks Essence!) and this is the last time I will allow production challenges to look like the fault is mine alone, when it is not.”
Furthermore, Hill acknowledged those who decided to no longer extend their grace.
“I’m okay with that because it’s not your grace that sustains me,” he added.
She then urged the media to fact-check her posts. Finally, the singer concluded by thanking those who stuck with her “despite the late start.”
Scroll below to read his full statement.
Essence previously released a statement on the matter
Lauryn Hill’s statement came a day after Essence took to its official Instagram account to address the misconception about the singer’s delay. On Monday, July 7, Essence shared a post stating that Hill “arrived on schedule, stepped into that stage, and delivered the kind of performance only a legend can.”
“The delay? Not hers. We’ll accept that. The moment? One for the books. The legacy? Still unmatched. Put some respect on her name. Keep the shots, but keep her out of them. All love and deep admiration for Lauryn Hill,” the company added.
Peep his post below.
Here’s why some internet users believed
As The Shade Room previously reported, talk of Lauryn Hill allegedly arriving late to her performances has been circulating online for a few years. In November 2023, Hill addressed her alleged lateness during her 25th anniversary tour for her debut album, ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,’ per The Shade Room.
“They hate that she’s late. She’s late… You’re lucky I get to do this on this… stage every night!” she said at the time.
Then, over the weekend, Hill was predicted to perform at the recent Essence 2025 Festival. Despite being scheduled to take the stage on Saturday, July 5th at 12:35 PM, she reportedly took the stage around 2:35 AM. Subsequently, social media users criticized Hill for her perceived lateness, misreporting that artists ahead of her also had their performances delayed due to production hiccups.
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What do you think colleagues?
