Lauryn Hill Addresses Delayed Essence Festival Performance, Festival Cites Production Issues

Lauryn Hill addressed the delayed start of her 2025 Essence Festival of Culture performance, which began at 2:30 a.m. instead of the scheduled 12:35 a.m., leading to fan frustration and speculation. Hill thanked Essence Festival organizers for publicly taking responsibility for the scheduling delays, emphasizing that the lateness was not her fault. She refuted longstanding misconceptions about her professionalism, explaining her deep involvement in every aspect of her shows, including music arrangement, production, and performance quality, while also managing family responsibilities. Hill criticized the false narrative that she is careless or disengaged, asserting that she works diligently to maintain the integrity of her message and artistry. She expressed appreciation to fans who stayed despite the late start and vowed not to allow production issues to be blamed solely on her in the future. The Essence Festival and Hill's exchanges highlight a rare instance of promoter accountability amid ongoing concerns about concert delays.