NEW YORK, USA — Lauryn Hill is being sued by Pras Michél, her fellow Fugees bandmate. Michél accuses Hill of breach of contract and fraud.
The lawsuit, filed Monday in New York, alleges that Hill mismanaged the budget for the Fugees’ 2023 comeback tour, resulting in financial losses for Michél, despite the tour being widely anticipated and sold out at multiple venues.
According to the lawsuit, Michél claims that the budget was “so bloated with unnecessary and, most likely fictitious, expenses, that it seemed designed to lose money.”
He alleges that Hill’s “narcissistic tendencies” and “arrogance” prevented the tour from being a financial success, despite high ticket sales.
In response, Hill issued a statement dismissing the claims as “baseless” and filled with “false claims and unwarranted attacks.”
She also suggested that Michél’s ongoing legal troubles may have influenced his decision to file the lawsuit.
The lawsuit also includes a claim that Hill turned down a $5 million offer to perform at Coachella without consulting Michél.
The reason, according to Michél, was that the Fugees would not be headlining the event.
Tour Mismanagement and Missed Opportunities
Michél asserts that the tour was poised for success, with most shows sold out in advance, but he walked away with nothing, blaming Hill’s decisions for the outcome.
He also criticized Hill’s well-known “chronic tardiness” at performances, an issue that has been a long-standing point of contention.
In her statement, Hill explained that the 2023 tour was initially designed to celebrate the 25th anniversary of her iconic solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and was going to happen regardless of the Fugees’ involvement.
She says that she brought the group into the tour to help Michél financially, as he was facing mounting legal fees after being convicted of illegal lobbying.
“Last year’s tour was put together to celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. It was being planned whether the Fugees were involved or not,” Hill said.
“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.”
| AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File
Michél’s Legal Troubles
Pras Michél was found guilty in 2023 of illegal lobbying, with U.S. prosecutors alleging that he had received over $100 million from Malaysian billionaire Jho Low to influence U.S. politics.
Michél’s legal battles are central to Hill’s defense, as she claims that she paid him an advance of $3 million to cover his legal expenses.
In her statement, Hill contends that Michél’s lawsuit “notably omits” this overpayment and the fact that he has yet to repay the “substantial loans” she extended to him as an “act of goodwill.”
Future of the Fugees
The Fugees are set to perform three shows in the UK next week, including a highly anticipated performance at London’s O2 Arena.
However, Michél’s lawyer confirmed that he will not be participating in the upcoming performances.
Formed in New Jersey in 1990, the Fugees, consisting of Lauryn Hill, Pras Michél, and Wyclef Jean, became one of the most influential hip-hop groups of their time, with hits such as Ready or Not and Killing Me Softly.
As the lawsuit unfolds, the future of the Fugees’ reunion tour remains uncertain, with both Hill and Michél publicly clashing over the tour’s management and finances.
