Lauryn Hill has issued a formal statement following her delayed performance at the 2025 Essence Festival of Culture (July 3-6) — thanking festival organizers for publicly acknowledging that the late start to her set was not her fault.

Lauryn Hill thanked the 2025 Essence Fest for taking responsibility for her late set time at 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 5, at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

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.