Lauryn Hill and Pras Michel, the duo from the hip-hop trio Fugees, seem to be loggerheads. Michel sued Ms. Hill on October 1, 2024, for fraud and breach of contract, citing the singer's repeated delays in scheduling shows. The complaint was filed in the Southern District of New York. However, Hill issued a detailed response on her Instagram.
She asserted that Michel had been under duress recently, which she believed might have impacted his judgment. Lauryn addressed the accusations against her in her post, dismissing Pras’s lawsuit as containing “false claims” and “baseless attacks.” Lauryn Hill wrote:
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“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.”
She stated that the lawsuit was unfounded and filled with false claims and unjustified attacks. Additionally, she pointed out that it failed to mention that Michel was overpaid for the last tour and had not repaid significant loans she extended to him as a gesture of goodwill.
Hill also noted that last year's tour was organized to celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and was in the works regardless of the Fugees' involvement. Lauryn Hill emphasized that her name was the driving force behind the tour's success. She suggested that a Fugees reunion would not have attracted nearly as many ticket sales without her participation.
Lauryn Hill claimed Pras Michel was given a $3 million advance
Lauryn Hill said she avoided criticizing others, especially when they were struggling, and this was why she hadn't responded earlier. She found it deeply upsetting to see her bandmate and someone she once considered a friend in his current situation.
Lauryn Hill clarified that she was not involved in Pras's life when he made the decision that led to his legal troubles, nor advised him to take that path, and therefore bore no responsibility for his actions or their consequences.
Despite this, she had chosen to offer help and remained compassionate, hoping for a positive outcome for him, even in the face of his attacks. Her statement mentioned:
“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.”
She continued:
“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.”
Lauryn Hill is represented by lawyer Howard King, who described the lawsuit as "desperate and unfortunate," filled with falsehoods and damaging remarks. According to Variety, he expressed disappointment that the suit neglected to mention that Michel had been significantly overpaid on the last tour to help cover his rising legal expenses. King criticized him for his lack of appreciation for Hill's financial support.
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