Lauryn Hill Fans Defend Her After Essence Fest Performance

Ms. Lauryn Hill’s fans are coming to her defense. The Grammy-winning superstar performed this weekend at the 2025 ESSENCE Festival of Culture, but, according to People, she took the stage after 3:30 a.m. The Fugee reportedly closed out her set at the festival to a near-empty stadium.

While Ms. Hill’s history of tardy performances is well-documented and infamous, fans were quick to point out that her set being so late was not at all her fault.

Several fans on social media pointed out that Ms. Hill was not at fault for the late start time.

Fellow neo-soul star India.Arie also defended Hill, and called out ESSENCE.

“It’s ok tho,” Arie wrote on IG in a comment under a video about the performance. “I understaaaannnd the gaaaame. (in my Erykah Badu voice)I hope they can pull it together and come BACK to reflect the culture again.