Lauryn Hill is setting the record straight after her late-night Essence Festival set sparked backlash online. The Grammy-winning singer clarified that the delay in her performance was not her fault—and for the first time, organizers publicly agreed.
Hill was scheduled to perform at 12:35 a.m. on Saturday, July 5, during the 2025 Essence Festival of Culture at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. But due to earlier scheduling issues, she didn’t take the stage until around 2:30 a.m., wrapping her performance at 3:37 a.m.
On Monday, Essence issued a rare public statement taking full responsibility for the timing mishap.
“The delay? Not hers. We will take that,” Essence wrote on Instagram. “Lauryn Hill arrived on schedule, stepped on that stage, and delivered the kind of performance only a legend can… Put some respect on her name.”
Hill responded on Tuesday via her own Instagram post, thanking the festival for publicly “clarifying that the delays were not [her] fault.”
“This is the first time a promoter has acknowledged the slip-up on their end,” Hill wrote. “And this is the last time I’ll allow production challenges to look like the fault is mine alone, when they aren’t.”
She went on to address the long-running “false narrative” about her professionalism, insisting that rumors about her being indifferent or chronically late are both inaccurate and damaging.
“There seems to be a misconception 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. That’s nonsense,” Hill said. “I am involved in every aspect of what it takes to put on my shows.”
She detailed the personal work she puts into arranging music, directing her band, managing production, and overseeing design—while also raising her children.
“It requires THAT much involvement to protect the integrity of my message and the quality of what I do,” she emphasized.
Hill also addressed fans who’ve grown frustrated with past performance delays, saying, “I’m okay with that because it’s not your grace that sustains me.” Still, she closed by thanking those who stayed to watch her set: “Despite the late start, I appreciate those who stayed and rocked with us.”
In a pointed message to the press, she added:
“Media, fact-check and watch what you irresponsibly put out there—there are consequences for misrepresenting the facts.”
This is so terrible to do to a performer. Lauren Hill closed out the Essence Festival at the Superdome last night. Due to program delays the Dome was empty and she finished at 3:37 AM!!! pic.twitter.com/gEKQ3ZcZwA
Essence’s public defense of Hill drew praise across social media, with the publication commenting under Hill’s post:
“Always love and accountability live here. Thank you for blessing us.”
The performance—which was part of a star-studded weekend lineup—was one of the most anticipated of the festival. Although the late hour disappointed some attendees, others applauded Hill’s artistry and the show’s energy.
This moment also revisits a long-standing conversation about Hill’s performance history. In 2023, during her 25th anniversary tour for The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, she addressed similar criticisms, saying, “Y’all are lucky that I make it on this… stage every night!”
But this time, she’s making clear that the delay wasn’t on her. And for once, the promoter agrees.
