The organizers of the Essence Festival have defended Lauryn Hill following her late appearance at the event, which saw her start performing around 2:30 a.m. to a sparse crowd on July 5. The festival took ownership of the delayed start, attributing it to ongoing delays reported throughout the day. In a statement posted on their social media, the festival praised Hill as a “legend” and explicitly stated that the delay was not her fault. Hill had been added to the lineup just days before the festival commenced on Friday. The first night of the four-day festival also saw late starts from other artists such as GloRilla, the Isley Brothers, Babyface, and Maxwell.
“Family is family, and we stand by our own no matter what others may say,” the Essence Festival statement read. “We unequivocally support Ms. Lauryn Hill. We won’t compromise for clicks or headlines.” The statement continued to highlight Hill’s punctuality, performance, and legendary status, emphasizing that the delay was not her responsibility but rather an exceptional moment in entertainment history.
Despite Hill’s reputation for tardiness at concerts, she took the stage at Essence Fest in high spirits, and those dedicated fans who stayed were treated to an intimate and interactive performance. Reports indicated that the pauses between songs at the Caesars Superdome allowed Hill to engage with the audience, taking requests and delivering a memorable rendition of “I Gotta Find Peace of Mind” from her 2002 live acoustic album “MTV Unplugged No. 2.0.” Hill exited the stage at 3:37 a.m., leaving a lasting impression on those in attendance.
