Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · July 9, 2025 · Entertainment

Lauryn Hill's Midnight Show: Essence Fest Delays and Her Truth

Just days after making headlines for performing until 3:30 AM in a practically empty stadium at Essence Fest, Lauryn Hill is breaking her silence.

Lauryn Hill Sets the Record Straight: "I'm Not a Scam Artist"

The Queen of Neo-Soul, Lauryn Hill, has finally broken her silence after causing a stir at Essence Fest with a performance that went well into the wee hours of the morning. The 50-year-old songstress took to social media to address the controversy surrounding her late start and set her record straight.

It all began when Hill was scheduled to close out the night at 12:35 AM, but didn't take the stage until 2:31 AM. The Superdome, with an official capacity of 83,000, was left practically empty by the time she started performing. Videos went viral showing the sea of empty seats as Hill belted out her hits.

Now Hill herself has issued a statement, both thanking the festival for acknowledging their responsibility in the delay, and clearing up misconceptions about past tardiness.

While some fans were quick to bash Hill for her tardiness, the festival itself took responsibility for the delay, acknowledging that it wasn't Hill's fault. In a statement, Essence Fest said: "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."

Hill herself has now issued a statement, thanking the festival for clarifying their role in the delay. She also took the opportunity to address her reputation for being late and set the record straight.

"Family, let me address a few things," Hill began. "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... 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."

'Thank you Essence Fest for clarifying that the delays were not my fault. Family, let me address a few things,' Hill began.

Hill insisted that she's not just a diva who shows up whenever she pleases. "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."

The singer also addressed her haters directly, saying: "Those of you who can no longer extend me grace, I'm OK with that, because it's not your grace that sustains me. It's God's grace that sustains me and the love of fans who appreciate that my message came for them when they needed it most and KNOW that I was probably being punished for being so honest in the midst of big business."

As for her detractors, Hill had a simple message: "Fact-check and watch what you irresponsibly put out there - there are consequences for misrepresenting the facts."

'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 continued.

'There seems to be a misconception out there though that I am somewhere on the Riviera with my feet up, drink in hand, showing up to concerts whenever because I am too important to care. That's nonsense... and anyone who's been a part of these productions knows that IN FACT the opposite is true,' she insisted.

'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 I'll allow production challenges to look like the fault is mine alone when they aren't,' she said.

She also addressed the media, stating, 'fact check and watch what you irresponsibly put out there - there are consequences for misrepresenting the facts.'

The schedule for Friday's Evening Concert Series was supposed to start with Psyrin at 7:10 PM, followed by Lucky Dave at 7:30 and Coco Jones at 8:00

Glorilla was slated for 8:30, followed by The Isley Brothers at 9:15, Babyface at 10:10, Maxwell at 11:15 and Lauryn Hill closing out the night at 12:35 AM.

Maxwell's set was supposed to start at 11:15 PM but didn't start until 12:55 AM, with reports adding that Maxwell's stage was cleared around 2:04 AM, though Hill didn't take the stage until 2:31 AM, wrapping up at 3:37 AM.

De Lewis (@shotbyde) said, 'Lauryn Hill is a scam artist and I don¿t know why yall keep supporting her.'

Brit Williams (@DrBritWilliams) quote-retweeted another tweet that said her set ended at 3:37 AM, adding, 'Stop. Booking. Her.'

However, others defended Hill, including Eric Lamont (@EricUnedited), who quote-retweeted Brit's tweet, clarifying what happened.

Another fan dubbed @tallyohhh added, 'I feel so bad for everybody making fun of Lauryn Hill performing late at Essence Festival, because it wasn¿t even her fault. I read that the performance schedule was off by like an hour or two and pushed everything back. I¿m impressed that she still performed that late! I¿ve seen her live before, I¿m sure it was a dope show.'

Others like Tony Cardasco (@TonyDasco) mentioned Hill was, 'a couple of hours late in LA and late at Brooklyn Bowl.'

Still, some like Joe Arrigo (@JoeArrigo_) defended Hill, stating, 'this is a bit misleading because the essence festival was actually running behind schedule, which played a role in her coming on late, this one wasn¿t on her all the way. I have some friends that are/were there, so it¿s not 100% on Lauryn Hill (this time).'