Lauryn Hill is being sued by Fugees bandmate Pras Michel following the group’s failed reunion tour that was planned for 2023.
As Blavity reported, The Fugees were set to open for Hill during her Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 25th Anniversary Tour. Michel filed a lawsuit on Oct. 1, claiming that “Hill grossly mismanaged the setup, marketing and budgeting of their scuttled 2023 tour, which ‘was actually a veiled and devious attempt to make a big score for herself,'” Variety reported.
What is Pras Michel suing Lauryn Hill for?
Michel is suing for “fraud, fraud in the inducement, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, accounting and refusal to permit an audit of the Fugees’ tour,” per Variety’s report.
Michel’ complaint states that the planned 2023 tour was supposed to be “a huge commercial success, since most of shows for the entire arena size tour were sold out in advance.” However, Hill ended up canceling the tour due to “serious vocal strain,” allegedly leaving him with nothing.
“Hill was taking 40% of the tour guarantees and tour net profits ‘off the top’ for herself, leaving the remaining 60% to be split equally between Hill, Pras and Wyclef,” the suit mentions.
A Coachella deal is alleged to have fallen through
The lawsuit also alleges that the eight-time Grammy winner declined a $5 million deal with Coachella after pop-rock group No Doubt received top billing.
“Hill’s arrogance was again demonstrated when she unilaterally rejected a $5 Million offer [to play Coachella]. The reason was that her ego was bruised since the group No Doubt would be receiving top billing over The Fugees the night of their show,” the complaint reads. “Hill never told Pras about the offer or that she had was rejected it. Pras only learned about it when it was too late, after Hill, in an astonishing display of hubris, asked Pras if he would agree to perform a few Fugees songs for free as the opening act for her son, ‘YG’ Marley, who was slated to perform at the same Coachella festival.”
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The complaint also states that Hill didn’t move fast enough to secure an 18-show agreement with Live Nation on behalf of The Fugees. As a result, Live Nation canceled the U.S. tour in August, disappointing fans.
“Last year, I faced an injury that necessitated the rescheduling of some of my shows,” Hill wrote on Instagram at the time. “Regrettably, some media outlet’s penchant for sensationalism and clickbait headlines have seemingly created a narrative that has affected ticket sales for the North American portion of the tour.”
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Earlier this week, she reportedly showed up on stage four hours late for a show in Kenya, per Hot New Hip Hop.
In a statement to Variety, Hill hit back at Michel and the lawsuit, calling it in part, a “baseless lawsuit” that’s “full of false claims and unwarranted attacks.”
In response to Hill’s reaction, a publicist for Michel’s attorney told Variety, “Ms. Hill’s response is categorically false. If she was so responsible with the management of the tour, why has she not sent an accounting to Pras? Why has she refused him the ability to audit her books and records? Where did the eight figure advance she received from [live entertainment company] Mammoth go? Most importantly, why has she not addressed the fact that she has tarnished the Fugees brand with her chronic tardiness?”
View Hill’s statement to Variety in full below:
Some clarity and facts need to be presented. I’ve been silent and pushing through because I understood that Pras was under duress because of his legal battles and that this was perhaps affecting his judgment, state of mind and character.
Fact #1: This baseless lawsuit by Pras is full of false claims and unwarranted attacks. It notably omits that he was advanced overpayment for the last tour and has failed to repay substantial loans extended by myself as an act of goodwill. Last year’s tour was put together to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. It was being planned whether the Fugees were involved or not.
Fact #2: The tour was expanded to incorporate the Fugees because I found out that Pras was in trouble and would need money to aid his legal defense.
Fact #3: Pras was given a $3M advance for the tour, which he said he required to pay his legal fees. Wyclef and Myself deferred our full advances to make sure he had what he needed and was able to go. I covered most of the tour expenses, as the majority of the tour advance had gone to Pras. An agreement was put in place to secure the repayment of the money he was advanced. Pras has not paid back the money he was advanced, and is currently in breach of this agreement.
Fact #4: Because my tour, band, production, and set up were already happening, the Fugees set utilized this same production. I absorbed most of the expenses myself, produced the show, put together the entire set (with Wyclef’s participation for the Fugees and Wyclef’s set). Pras basically just had to show up and perform.
Fact #5: As of the last tour Pras thanked me for ‘saving his life’. (I have the receipts.)
Fact #6: I am not in the business of kicking anyone, especially when they’re down, which is why I haven’t responded to date. It is absolutely disheartening to see Pras in this position, my band mate and someone I considered a friend but this leads us to Fact #7, which probably should have been Fact #1…
Fact #7: I was not in Pras’ life when he decided to make the unfortunate decision that lead to his current legal troubles. I did not advise that he make that decision and therefore am in no way responsible for his decision and its consequences though I have taken it upon myself to help. Despite his attacks, I am still compassionate and hope things work out for him.
Respectfully, MLH
