NEED TO KNOW
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Lauryn Hill was set to perform at the 2025 Essence Fest at 12:35 a.m. on Saturday, July 5, but didn’t hit the stage until 2:30 a.m
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Essence Fest then announced on Monday, July 7, that the delays were the festival’s fault not Hill’s
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Hill thanked the festival on Tuesday, July 8, for setting the record straight
Lauryn Hill is thanking Essence Fest for taking responsibility for her late set time.
On Saturday, July 5, the “Everything Is Everything” artist was set to perform at the 2025 Essence Festival of Culture at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, with an original time slot of 12:35 a.m. However, her set started at 2:30 a.m. local time and concluded at 3:37 a.m.
Then on Monday, July 7, Essence Fest released a statement addressing Hill’s performance and took responsibility for Hill’s late set time.
The next day, the 50-year-old singer issued her own statement to her Instagram profile, and thanked the festival “for clarifying that the delays were not [her] fault.”
Erika Goldring/Getty
Lauryn Hill on July 05, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
In Hill’s post, she included several screenshots of her statement which began with her saying, “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, “And for this reason: I rehearse and arrange the music diligently with my band. I am involved in every aspect of design, preparation and production of my shows while also being a parent, grandparent and steward to my immediate family and community.”
Hill shared that “while some get to focus on a single discipline or category, my role requires that I have eyes everywhere and contribute to most if not every department and more.”
She also noted that she does everything “without complaint because it is truly labor of love,” adding, “[It is] a great passion for me to be able to perform meaningful music for my audience.”
In her post, Hill also aimed to clear up a “misconception,” writing, “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,” she wrote, adding, “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. We are here, pushing through the resistance.”
Bennett Raglin/Getty
Lauryn Hill on July 05, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The singer added, “This is not the first time production delays have delayed my performances.”
“This IS however the first time a promoter has acknowledged the slip up on their end, (thank you Essence!) and this will be the last time l’ll allow production challenges to look like the fault is mine alone, when they aren’t.”
Her statement continued by remarking that “it’s God’s grace that sustains me and the love of the fans who appreciate that my message came for them when they needed it most and KNOW that I was probably punished for being so honest in the midst of big business.”
She concluded by adding, “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.”
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The 2025 Essence Festival of Culture took place from Thursday, July 3 to Sunday, July 6.
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