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Ms. Lauryn Hill has issued a statement after her anticipated tour with the Fugees and YG Marley was canceled without notice.
The revered artist broke her silence about the status of the tour hours after the news broke about its abrupt demise on Wednesday, August 7. In her statement, Hill blamed the media for creating a narrative about her shows with "clickbait headlines" that allegedly caused low ticket sales in the U.S. and Canada.
"The trust and faith I have in my intentions and my commitment to my art seem to have been overshadowed by this unfortunate portrayal," Hill wrote.
The narrative Hill cites stems from the various tours that have been postponed or canceled over the past three years. In 2021, Hill and the Fugees announced plans for a reunion tour, but it was postponed later that year due to COVID conditions. It was ultimately canceled in January 2022. Last year, Hill, Wyclef Jean and Pras successfully reunited for the "Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" 25th anniversary tour last October. They managed to perform several shows together, however, she was forced to cancel the remaining dates to focus on recovering from a vocal injury.
Her previous cancelation fueled more criticism about Hill and her shows. Fans have chimed in about the seasoned singer's alleged tendency to show up late to scheduled performances. She addressed the banter about her shows on stage during one of her final performances last year. Following the cancelation, she promised to be back in 2024 and followed through by announcing the tour earlier this year with her son YG Marley as the trio's opening act. Although the upcoming tour in North America was axed, Hill and the Fugees still plan to bring the tour to their fans in the U.K. and Europe.
"The shows in the UK and Europe ARE MOVING FORWARD as planned," Hill wrote. "The audiences in the UK and Europe not only haven’t seen the Miseducation Anniversary performance yet, they also haven’t seen the Fugees perform together in over 25 years! Performing for my fans, is a profound exchange of energy and emotion that excites me every time. Every show is a piece of my expression and testament to our connection and shared love for music. I can assure you that no one is more disappointed about not being able to perform than I am."
The tour's run overseas will kick off in Dublin on October 7. It will hit other major cities like London, Manchester, Stockholm, and Paris before it concludes in Hamburg on November 1.