Lauryn Hill has addressed backlash over her delayed Essence Festival set, calling the public response “nonsense” and insisting the holdup wasn’t her fault.

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.