Lauryn Hill is causing quite a stir on TikTok after performing at the Essence Festival over the weekend. It turns out that her set, which was supposed to begin just after midnight, ended up being delayed by almost TWO hours. The setback prompted annoyed fans to vent their frustration on the social media app. However, it appears the late start to Lauryn’s set wasn’t her fault, as delays in start times began much earlier in the evening, causing the entire line-up to hit the stage at a later time. However, waiting until 2:35 AM to see Hill, the show’s final act, seemed a little too much for some people. Here’s what occurred…
While the Essence Festival start time for each of the night’s artists taking the stage made it clear Lauryn was supposed to be on stage by 12:35 A.M., there ended up being a few hours’ delay in her time hitting the stage. To note, Lauryn has previously been called out on numerous occasions for reportedly hitting the stage late at some of her shows and scheduled appearances.
Annoyed concert-goers, many of whom didn’t anticipate spending time at the stadium this late into the night, became impatient waiting for Lauryn to show up on this occasion. However, they reportedly did not realize that, this time, the issue had nothing to do with Hill. Nonetheless, one irritated user on TikTok, @morgand.23, shared footage of the number of seats that were left empty after the clock struck 2 am, with still no sign of Lauryn.
@morgand.23
@monilove1908 Where is @Lauryn hill Official? #essencefest
It’s worth mentioning that the venue appeared packed at the start of the show. As the camera panned, hundreds of seats had been left unoccupied, with the remaining people still willing to wait and see the show’s final act. “Where is Lauryn?” The TikToker said in a frustrated manner. Her video then cuts to a clip of the R&B singer finally kicking things off at 2:35 AM.
Another TikTok shared by @keoishakatarra captured footage of Lauryn putting on a show. But, as seen in the video, there were dozens of empty seats with a small crowd of people watching from the front of the stage.
@morgand.23 Did everyone perform? Yes… Were they late? Yes… BUT it was a great show #essencefest #essence
@keoishakatarra Lauren Hill came out at 2:30am
on night 1 of the concert series but it was definitely a experience seeing as this my first time seeing her. Aint no telling when it will happen again #essencefest2025 #Laurenhill #blackexcellence #luckilyimanightshifter
Whew! Fans were NOT happy about the situation, though some appeared to overlook the fact that every artist who graced the stage in the evening was late, seemingly due to production or organization issues, per a created thread shared on Reddit. Peep some of their reactions below…
@cherlyncarby wrote, “does she only perform during these hours? unbelievable”
@authenticlee_ wrote, “This time I can’t say it was all her fault. The whole show was running an hour to an hour and half behind. We left at 2:20am”
@stillstrill wrote, “The real question is why are you still there waiting at 2:28am? 
”
@patimuba wrote, “Not another dime will spend on any performer that disrespects their fans like this.”
@nolajerin7 wrote, “Saw her at voodoo fest years ago. She was late then and they cut her off mid song. They let her finish her set on another stage, and she was late to that!”
Lauryn has kept a relatively low profile in the past year. In 2024, she shared a sweet reunion with her former classmates last summer. Our good sis had ex-students at Columbia High School in Maplewood, NJ, gagged when she popped up at their reunion last August and turned it into a whole concert! The R&B legend surprised everyone with an impromptu performance, serving up classics like Fugees’ ‘Ready or Not,’ with a special shoutout to her alma mater.
The crowd was living, singing along like it was 1998, y’all! One classmate spilled the tea, saying the reunion was “so good for the soul,” per Billboard, and we believe it! Lauryn, who graduated in 1993, has proven she still has that fire.
The post Lauryn Hill Faces Criticism After Apparent Delay In Essence Festival Start Seems To Push Her Performance Back By Two Hours appeared first on The Shade Room.
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