Lauryn Hill sued by Fugees bandmate over axed tour

Lauryn Hill is being sued for fraud and breach of contract by Fugees bandmate Pras Michel in relation to the group’s cancelled 2023/24 tour dates.

The Fugees’ 2024 North American outing was set to feature Hill, Michel and Wyclef Jean, but was axed in August, with the singer blaming “sensationalism and clickbait headlines” for hurting ticket sales. Hill had previously curtailed the second half of their 2023 run, citing “vocal strain”.

Michel’s lawsuit – filed this week in the Southern District of New York – says last year’s tour was on track to be “a huge commercial success, since most of shows for the entire arena size tour were sold out in advance”.

However, the suit, which Hill has blasted as “baseless” and “full of false claims and unwarranted attacks”, alleges the vocalist mismanaged the budget to the extent that it became “so bloated with unnecessary and, most likely fictitious, expenses, that it seemed designed to lose money”.

Accusing Hill of “arrogance” and “narcissistic tendencies”, it claims she “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”.

“This action will be aggressively defended and defeated”

The filing further alleges that Hill “unilaterally rejected” a $5 million offer for the trio to perform at this year’s Coachella without informing her bandmates, since “her ego was bruised” that No Doubt would receive top billing.

Michel, 51, was convicted of illegal lobbying last year following a trial at the US District Court in Washington.

In a statement to Variety, which obtained the lawsuit, Hill’s attorney Howard King said: “It is particularly disappointing that the suit fails to reveal that Pras was grossly over advanced for the last tour to help him pay his mounting legal bills. His failure to show appreciation for the financial help Ms. Hill has afforded him in his time of need is disappointing. This action will be aggressively defended and defeated.”

Michel will not be joining Hill and Jean on the Fugees’ imminent European arena tour, which is due to begin later this month.

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