Latest news with #2025EssenceFestival
New York Post
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Lauryn Hill addresses the ‘nonsense' after her 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. 11 Lauryn Hill performs during 2025 Essence Festival Of Culture at Caesars Superdome on July 4, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Getty Images 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.' 11 Lauryn Hill at the 2025 Essence Festival Of Culture. Getty Images '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.' 11 Lauryn Hill performs late at the 2025 Essence Festival Of Culture. Getty Images '[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.' 11 Fatlip, Jermaine Dupri, Imani, and Slimkid3 perform onstage during Day 3 of the 2025 Essence Festival. Getty Images for ESSENCE 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.' 11 Dj Mars, DJ Trauma and Lala Milan onstage during Day 3 of the 2025 Essence Festival. Getty Images for ESSENCE 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!' 11 Lauryn Hill. Getty Images 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. 11 Lauryn Hill performs in nearly-empty stadium. morgand.23/TikTok 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. 11 Lauryn Hill performs later than scheduled. morgand.23/TikTok 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.' 11 Lauryn Hill performs on Night 1 during the 2025 Essence Festival Of Culture. WireImage '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 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. 11 Lauryn Hill attends The 2025 Met Gala. Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue 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.'' 11 Lauryn Hill in NYC. Walik Goshorn/MediaPunch/INSTARimages '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.
Black America Web
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Street Style: Black Women Understood The Assignment At The Kensington Grey x Essence GU Mixer
Source: Leon Bennett / Getty The 2025 Essence Festival is a wrap, but content from the weekend is still flowing on social media. Thousands of melanated folk flocked to the beloved city of NOLA to experience the annual cultural event that unites travelistas, influencers, vibe-seekers and beauty aficionados with the brands they love most. This year, Essence's Girl's United partnered with Kensington Grey, the prem ier talent agency for Black digital storytellers, to present a mixer event where guests brought some of the best looks of the festival. On Saturday, July 5th, tastemakers converged for an afternoon of curated conversation, intentional connection, and content creation featuring J.C. Carter, Scot Louie, and Justine's Camera Roll. The girls were outside for this one, most of them wearing pristine white ensembles while others rocked bold embroidery, stripes, and other mixtures. Influencers like Gia Peppers, Trell Thomas, and more. And we were on the scene to capture it all. According to the press release, the goal of the event was to 'activate a powerful truth: when Black creators are centered, supported, and seen, the results are unforgettable.' Kensington Grey x Essence GU Creator 'Black women are forever the blueprint — and at ESSENCE Girls United ® , we build for us, by us, because we love us. By joining forces with a visionary agency like Kensington Grey, we're stepping beyond creating content to cultivate long-lasting legacy, connection, and joy, said Rechelle Dennis, co-founder and brand lead of ESSENCE Girls United® . 'Together, we're designing a new pathway where creativity flourishes, culture leads, and the next generation of storytellers can rise unapologetically.' Keep scrolling for the fab white looks of the night. Street Style: Black Women Understood The Assignment At The Kensington Grey x Essence GU Mixer was originally published on Source:Getty Gia Peppers attends the ESSENCE GU® Creator Mixer on July 05, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Source:Getty Richard Seigler-Carter attends the ESSENCE GU® Creator Mixer on July 05, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Source:Getty Isaiah Mikhail attends the ESSENCE GU® Creator Mixer on July 05, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. a Source:Getty NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 05: Joel Bervell attends the ESSENCE GU® Creator Mixer on July 05, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Source:Getty Trell Thomas attends the ESSENCE GU® Creator Mixer on July 05, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Source:Getty Jasmine Jennings attends the ESSENCE GU® Creator Mixer on July 05, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Source:Getty Richard Seigler-Carter attends the ESSENCE GU® Creator Mixer on July 05, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Source:Getty Mia Harden attends the ESSENCE GU® Creator Mixer on July 05, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Source:Getty Blaise Ffrench attends the ESSENCE GU® Creator Mixer on July 05, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Source:Getty Karmen Gooding attends the ESSENCE GU® Creator Mixer on July 05, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Source:Getty Jasmine Adetunji attends the ESSENCE GU® Creator Mixer on July 05, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Source:Getty Erin Garnes attends the ESSENCE GU® Creator Mixer on July 05, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Source:Getty Kimberly Bizu attends the ESSENCE GU® Creator Mixer on July 05, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Source:Getty Carrie Snipes attends the ESSENCE GU® Creator Mixer on July 05, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Source:Getty Kyra Evans-Hughes attends the ESSENCE GU® Creator Mixer on July 05, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Source:Getty Natasha Mathurent attends the ESSENCE GU® Creator Mixer on July 05, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Source:Getty JC Carter attends the ESSENCE GU® Creator Mixer on July 05, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Source:Getty Chevanne Brown attends the ESSENCE GU® Creator Mixer on July 05, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Source:Getty Chance attends the ESSENCE GU® Creator Mixer on July 05, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lauryn Hill Performs For Nearly Empty Superdome At Essence Fest Hours After Scheduled Set
Lauryn Hill is no stranger to running on her own time, but her latest 'late' performance at the 2025 Essence Festival was reportedly not her fault, and under circumstances out of her control. According to attendees, Hill didn't hit the stage at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans until 2:30 a.m. Saturday morning (July 5) — well after most fans had called it a night. By the time she launched into her set, only a few hundred people remained in the 'nearly empty' venue that holds more than 80,000. According to the evening ran off-schedule from the start, with multiple acts finishing almost an hour behind. And to be fair, the eight-time Grammy winner wasn't just fashionably late — she was added to an already jam-packed lineup that included performances by Jill Scott, Davido, Donnell Jones, Moliy, and Buju Banton. For the fans who stayed, Ms. Hill made it count. She spoke to the intimate crowd, took a song request or two, and even brought her sons, Zion Marley and Joshua 'YG' Marley, on stage for a family moment. Her set ended around 3:30 a.m., per The Hollywood Reporter. Videos of the nearly empty stadium have been circulating on TikTok, but so have clips of her giving a heartfelt performance despite the sparse audience. Hill performed beloved hits including, 'Tell Him' and 'Zion,' as her son gave the crowd a live rendition of his viral song, 'Praise Jah In The Moonlight.' Some fans took to social media to defend her, arguing that the scheduling mess wasn't her fault and praising her for still showing up with grace. 'It was a PHENOMENAL set! I am happy and thankful that I stayed. Still feeling inspired!!!' one person commented on Instagram as another said, 'This is honestly messed up that anyone is sharing information like this. 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 added, 'I was there & saw the whole thing from Glorilla to Lauryn. 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.' A third person added, 'And this my song too!! I woulda been there up at 4am enjoying her set.' See footage of Lauryn Hill performing above. More from Essence Fest 2025 Releases Statement Following Lauryn Hill Backlash Stephanie Mills Writes Open Letter To Essence Fest Over "Organizational Shortcomings" Master P Responds To Mia X's Refusal To Perform With Him At ESSENCE Fest
IOL News
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Rekindled romance: Eva Marcille and Michael Sterling take another shot at love
Actress Eva Marcille and Michael Sterling rekindle their romance after being divorced for two years. Image: Instagram Second chances are sweet! Model and actress Eva Marcille and attorney Michael Sterling are rekindling their romance after a very public split in 2023. The reality star soft launched their reunion, sharing a video of them at the 2025 Essence Festival in New Orleans. The short video clip showcased the two in a golf cart ride while looking cosy on Instagram with Marcille captioning it: 'Happy Essence! I'm floating🌻 soft launch." The former "Real Housewives of Atlanta" reality star filed for divorce in March 2023 after she was married to Sterling for five years. In response to the filing, Sterling publicly came out with a statement to let people know that he would 'fight for her with every fibre of his being'. 'I am not going to lose my wife. I am going to fight for her with every fibre in my being. I love her and plan to show her how much I love her and that our love is strong enough to get to the other side,' he said. However, the divorce was ultimately finalised in August of the same year. After their split, Marcille and Sterling made co-parenting a priority, prioritising their children's well-being. According to court documents, they chose to forfeit child and spousal support, opting for a drama-free co-parenting arrangement. Marcille was candid about the toll the divorce took on her, describing it as an emotionally and physically exhausting experience. The couple share two sons, Sterling adopted Marcille's daughter whom she shares with rapper Kevin McCall.
USA Today
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Performers announced for 2025 Essence Festival: Dates, tickets, hosts, what to know
Performers announced for 2025 Essence Festival: Dates, tickets, hosts, what to know The 2025 Essence Festival of Culture will bring "legacy, rhythm, and resilience" to New Orleans this summer. Attendees can expect performances from major artists like rapper GloRilla, R&B songstress Muni Long, and hip hop trailblazer and NOLA native Master P, according to a festival announcement. The festival, which coincides with the 55th anniversary of Essence Magazine, is set for the Fourth of July weekend. "This year's festival will be both a time capsule and a forward-looking celebration — honoring the legacy that began on the page and now lives boldly on the stage," Essence said. Here's what we know about this year's festival. Coachella 2025: Shaboozey, Megan Thee Stallion and other Sunday highs and lows 2025 Essence Festival of Culture: Dates, tickets, venue, hosts The 2025 Essence Festival of Culture is set for July 4-6 in the New Orleans. The festival said "elevated daytime experiences" would take place at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, while evening concerts are at the Caesars Superdome. Tickets are currently available on Ticketmaster. Comedian and "Black-ish" star Anthony Anderson and cultural multi-hyphenate Kenny Burns will serve as the hosts at the Caesars Superdome. According to Essence, this year's theme is "We are Made Like This," which "speaks to the generations of Black brilliance that have shaped the world and continue to move it forward. " Confirmed performers According to Essence, current and legacy acts will take the stage at the Caesars Superdome and Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Performers announced so far include: Muni Long Summer Walker GloRilla Maxwell Davido Master P Boyz II Men Donell Jones Buju Banton The Isley Brothers Nas Who is curating the Quincy Jones tribute? Legendary producer Jermaine Dupri will spearhead a tribute for Quincy Jones. The late music icon died in late November at the age of 91. Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@
