Essence Fest 2025 Releases Statement Following Lauryn Hill Backlash
'Family is family and around here we protect our own no matter what the PEOPLE have to say. Let's be very clear — WE don't play about Ms. Lauryn Hill,' it reads. '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 delay? Not hers. We will take that. The moment? One for the books. The legacy? Still unmatched.'
The publication closed the message with this powerful reminder: 'Put some respect on her name. Keep the takes, but keep her out of them. All love and deep profound admiration for Ms. Lauryn Hill. #ESSENCEFest25.'
According to attendees, the eight-time Grammy-winning artist didn't hit the stage at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans until 2:30 A.M on Saturday morning (July 5), hours after many festival-goers had already called it a night.
By the time she launched into her set, only a few hundred people remained in the 'nearly empty' venue — which holds over 80,000. However, she still gave an unforgettable show.
The evening ran off-schedule from the start, according to NOLA.com, with act after act finishing nearly an hour late. Hill, for her part, didn't just slip in fashionably late; she was added to an already stacked lineup that included Jill Scott, Davido, Donnell Jones, Moliy, and Buju Banton. So while TikTok might be filled with videos of empty seats, it's also full of clips capturing Hill's soulful performance for the dedicated fans who stuck it out.
And for those who did wait, it was well worth it. Hill took time to connect with the intimate crowd, accepted a few song requests, and even brought out her sons — Zion Marley and Joshua 'YG' Marley — for a touching family moment. She wrapped her set around 3:30 A.M., according to The Hollywood Reporter, after performing beloved tracks like 'Zion' and 'Tell Him.' Her son YG Marley even blessed the mic with a live rendition of his viral hit, 'Praise Jah In The Moonlight.'
'It was a PHENOMENAL set! I am happy and thankful that I stayed. Still feeling inspired!!!' one fan commented on the event as another defended Hill against the criticism. 'She was NOT late, the entire show started late & she didn't get to start at her scheduled time because there were two acts before her still going when she should have been on the stage,' they wrote on Instagram.
They added, 'That woman does not deserve this negative narrative as if 'she did something wrong' or like her fans don't support her. It was late & people were just tired. Give her a break.' Someone else chimed in, 'I woulda been there up at 4am enjoying her set.'
See ESSENCE's official statement regarding Lauryn Hill's performance above.
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