Lauryn Hill addresses ‘nonsense’ after delayed Essence Festival set

Lauryn Hill is finding peace of mind in speaking her truth.

The singer, 50, is opening up about her Saturday set at the 2025 Essence Festival of Culture at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

Despite Hill’s original time slot being slated for 12:35 a.m., she didn’t start until 2:30 a.m. local time. The artist’s performance ran until 3:37 a.m.

On Sunday, the Essence Festival released a statement taking accountability for Hill’s set time.

Now, the hitmaker is setting the record straight.

Hill wrote in a lengthy Instagram post, “Thank you Essence for clarifying that the delays were not my fault.”

“Family, let me address a few things: I am involved in every aspect of what it takes to put on my shows, because it requires THAT much involvement to protect the integrity of my message and the quality of what I do,” she continued.

Hill added that she rehearses and arranges her music “diligently” while “also being a parent, grandparent and steward to my immediate family and community.”

Although it is hard work, the Grammy winner does so “without complaint because it is truly labor of love.”

“[It is] a great passion for me to be able to perform meaningful music for my audience.”

“There seems to be a misconception out there that I am somewhere on the Riviera with my feet up, drink in hand, showing up to concerts whenever because I’m too important to care,” explained Hill. “That’s nonsense… and anyone who’s been a part of these productions knows that IN FACT the opposite is true.”

“Those of us who are still out here grinding to present an alternative to the divisive, to the shallow, to the controlled, and to the intentionally limiting narrative of our representation do what it takes to do so,” she detailed. “We are here, pushing through the resistance.”

Hill acknowledged that she is no stranger to production delays, but appreciated the festival for taking responsibility.

“This IS however the first time a promoter has acknowledged the slip up on their end, (thank you Essence!),” she wrote, “and this will be the last time l’ll allow production challenges to look like the fault is mine alone, when they aren’t.”

Concluding her message, Hill signed off: “Media, fact check and watch what you irresponsibly put out there— there are consequences for misrepresenting the facts. Despite the late start, I appreciate those who stayed and rocked with us.”

Fans flocked to the comments section to share their support for the legendary artist.

“I would wait however long it takes to catch a Lauryn Hill set. I’m about to go listen to that unplugged album RIGHT NOWNOW,” one fan wrote.

Another added, “‘I’m savin souls and yall complaining bout my lateness…’ tell them!”

However, not everyone was as understanding.

“Not cool. You were late at lovers at friends didn’t hit the stage until 3am. We had to leave. It’s disappointing,” one social media user chimed in.

A second follower noted, “I want to love this but I’ve been to like 3 shows in the last couple years and stayed/waited/danced my butt off when you got there. But they all started uber late. I guess alllll these production peeps in different states need to get it together.”

The 2025 Essence Festival of Culture took place from Thursday, July 3, to Sunday, July 6. 

Hill’s set was supposed to hit the stage Friday night, following GloRilla, the Isley Brothers, Babyface, Maxwell, Lucky Daye and Psiryn.

But most of the other performers also didn’t go onstage until at least an hour after their scheduled sets.

While onstage, Hill sang her hit 1998 song “Ex-Factor.”

The superstar also brought her sons Zion Marley, 27, and YG Marley, 23, out to perform with her.

During her set, Hill performed “Killing Me Softly With His Song” and closed out the show with “Fu-Gee-La,” a song from her hip-hop group, the Fugees.

Shortly after, Essence Festival released a statement on Instagram defending Hill.

“Family is family and around here we protect our own no matter what the PEOPLE have to say,” they said on Sunday.” Let’s be very clear— WE don’t play about Ms. Lauryn Hill. Not for clicks. Not for headlines.”

“She arrived on schedule, stepped on that stage, and delivered the kind of performance only a legend can,” the statement added. “The delay? Not hers. We will take that. The moment? One for the books.The legacy? Still unmatched.”

“Put some respect on her name. Keep the takes, but keep her out of them,” the festival concluded. “All love and deep profound admiration for Ms. Lauryn Hill.”

Over the years, Hill has been notorious for arriving late to her shows.

In 2023, during a delayed concert of hers, the singer told the crowd, “Yo, y’all lucky I make it on this blood ras stage every night.”

“I don’t do it because they let me do it,” she shared. “I do it because I stand here in the name of God and I do it.”

“God is the one who allows me to do it,” Hill stated as the crowd went wild. “Who surrounded me with family and community when there was no support. When the album sold so many records and no one showed up and said, ‘Hey, would you like to make another one.’”

“So, I went around the world and played the same album over and over and over, because we’re the survivors.”

Hill formed the Fugees in 1990 with Wyclef Jean and Pras. Their second album, “The Score,” in 1996, made Hill the first woman to win a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album.

Then, in 1998, Hill released her debut solo album, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.”

She took home the award for Album of the Year at the Grammys, becoming the first rapper to win in that category.