Public opinion and media debates around Lauryn Hill—discover key moments of controversy.
Lauryn Hill is a highly influential American rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, and actress. Celebrated for her impact on music, she broke barriers for female rappers, contributing to the mainstream success of hip-hop and neo soul by blending rap with melodic vocals. Recognized by NPR and Rolling Stone for her vocal talent, Billboard named her the greatest female rapper. Hill's accolades include eight Grammy Awards, the most for any female rapper.
1996: Addressing Racist Rumor
In 1996, Lauryn Hill addressed a false rumor on The Howard Stern Show that she had made a racist comment on MTV.
November 1998: New Ark Lawsuit Filed
In November 1998, New Ark filed a lawsuit against Lauryn Hill, her management, and record label, claiming they were not properly credited for their work on Miseducation.
June 1999: Essence Award and Public Criticism
In June 1999, Lauryn Hill received an Essence Award, but her acceptance speech drew criticism from the public, who thought she was not a good role model as a young, unwed mother of two.
2000: Depositions in New Ark Lawsuit
During the latter part of 2000, depositions took place regarding the lawsuit filed by New Ark against Lauryn Hill.
2000: Withdrawal from Public Eye
In 2000, Lauryn Hill withdrew from the public eye due to the pressures of fame. She fired her management team, attended Bible study classes, and associated with a "spiritual advisor".
February 2001: Settlement of New Ark Lawsuit
In February 2001, Lauryn Hill settled the lawsuit with New Ark out of court for a reported $5 million.
December 2003: Vatican City Performance and Controversy
In December 2003, during a performance in Vatican City, Lauryn Hill spoke of "corruption, exploitation, and abuses" in reference to the Catholic Church, leading to controversy.
2003: Controversial Performance at Vatican Christmas Benefit Concert
In 2003, during a Christmas benefit concert at the Vatican, Lauryn Hill spoke out against sexual abuse of children by priests. Her comments sparked controversy and were edited out of the broadcast, though she has been applauded for speaking out since then. The Pope was not in attendance.
2005: Income Earned
Between 2005 and 2007 Lauryn Hill earned $1.8 million of income.
2005: Late Appearance with The Fugees
During a short 2005 tour, Lauryn Hill irritated Wyclef Jean by failing to appear on stage with the rest of the Fugees until 45–50 minutes into the performance.
2005: Fugees European Tour and Breakup
In late 2005, The Fugees embarked on a European tour, but old tensions resurfaced, leading to a breakup before an album could be recorded. Lauryn Hill's behavior was blamed as a contributing factor.
August 2007: Late Appearance at Brooklyn Show
In August 2007, Lauryn Hill was 2.5 hours late for a free Martin Luther King Jr. Concert Series show in Brooklyn.
2007: Income Earned
Between 2005 and 2007 Lauryn Hill earned $1.8 million of income.
2008: Unreported Income
Lauryn Hill had $500,000 in unreported income for 2008 and 2009.
2009: Unreported Income
Lauryn Hill had $500,000 in unreported income for 2008 and 2009.
December 2010: Late Appearance in Boston
In December 2010, Lauryn Hill took the stage in Boston two-and-a-half hours late for a performance.
June 2012: Guilty Plea in Tax Fraud Case
In June 2012, Lauryn Hill appeared in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and pleaded guilty to tax fraud charges.
June 2012: Tax Fraud Charges
In June 2012, Lauryn Hill was charged with three counts of tax fraud for failing to file taxes on $1.8 million of income earned between 2005 and 2007.
April 2013: Criticism for Lack of Restitution
By April 2013, Lauryn Hill had only paid back $50,000 of the $554,000 she owed immediately in back taxes, leading to criticism from U.S. Magistrate Judge Madeline Cox Arleo.
May 4, 2013: Release of "Neurotic Society (Compulsory Mix)"
On May 4, 2013, Lauryn Hill released her first official single in over a decade, "Neurotic Society (Compulsory Mix)", which she said was required due to an impending legal deadline.
May 6, 2013: Sentenced to Prison for Tax Fraud
On May 6, 2013, Lauryn Hill was sentenced to three months in prison and three months of house arrest for failing to file taxes/tax fraud, with an additional year of supervised probation.
July 8, 2013: Reports to Prison
On July 8, 2013, Lauryn Hill reported to the minimum-security Federal Correctional Institution, Danbury, to begin serving her sentence for tax fraud.
October 4, 2013: Release from Prison
On October 4, 2013, Lauryn Hill was released from prison a few days early for good behavior and began her home confinement and probationary periods.
November 2014: Erratic Behavior at Voodoo Fest
In November 2014, Lauryn Hill garnered media attention for her erratic behavior, including appearing late twice in the same day for sets at Voodoo Fest.
2015: Cancellation of Israel Show
In 2015, Lauryn Hill canceled a show in Israel following a social media campaign urging her to boycott the country over its occupation of Palestinian land. She clarified that she does not take sides in the conflict and believes in dignity for all sides.
May 2016: Late Appearance in Atlanta
In May 2016, Lauryn Hill was two hours late for a show in Atlanta, performing for only 40 minutes due to a venue curfew. She explained she had been "aligning my energy with the time".
November 2023: Criticism for Being Late to Los Angeles Show
In November 2023, Lauryn Hill faced widespread criticism for being late to a show in Los Angeles. She responded by saying her fans should consider themselves "lucky" that she appears on stage "every night".
August 2024: Fugees Reunion Tour Cancellation
In August 2024, The Fugees quietly canceled their reunion tour, citing "clickbait headlines" and low-ticket sales, leading to media scrutiny and disappointment.
October 2024: Lawsuit from Pras
In October 2024, Pras sued Lauryn Hill for breach of contract and fraud, accusing her of mismanaging the budgeting of their tour. Hill has denied any wrongdoing.