ICONIC 90s group The Fugees were nearly an hour late to the stage in London last night, prompting some frustrated fans to walk out.
Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean took to the stage at the O2 Arena, minus bandmate Pras Michél who is locked in a legal battle with Hill, close to 10pm.
The delayed start led the reunited group to play beyond the 11pm curfew by around 25 minutes, with them continuing on with the house lights on.
One fan shared from the arena: “Lauryn Hill concert O2 London. We have been here since 7:30. It is 9:35pm and Ms Hill still hasn’t come on stage. Ridiculous.”
Another said: “Did she finally come on? I got sick of waiting and left.”
A third shared: “I work at the o2 she was an hour late great performance though.”
A fourth shared: “First gig of the week: Lauryn Hill / Fugees…unsurprisingly she was late (again)…so disrespectful of her fans…venue was a third empty by the end as lots of people had to leave catch last train / tubes home.”
Those who did stick around for the entire show were full of praise for the duo’s performance though, with some branding it “once in a lifetime”.
That could well be the case as an ongoing feud between Hill and Pras over allegations of fraud and contract breaches has driven a seemingly irreversible wedge between the two founding members.
Pras called his bandmate “narcissistic and arrogant”, and claims “fictitious expenses” from the band’s 2023 tour had a serious impact on profit margins.
The band postponed tour dates last year after Hill suffered “serious vocal strain”, however, this summer later further shows were axed in the US due to “gross mismanagement”.
Pras and Hill have also clashed over a lucrative offer made to the group earlier in the year.
Lauryn Hill sings with the Fugees on their 90s classic Killing Me Softly –
It is alleged Coachella Festival organisers offered The Fugees $5million to perform, but Hill declined without consulting her bandmates after learning they wouldn’t be headlining.
A statement filed by Pras’ legal team states: “The reason was that her ego was bruised since the group No Doubt would be receiving top billing over The Fugees the night of their show.
“Hill never told Pras about the offer or that she had rejected it. Pras only learned about it when it was too late, after Hill, in an astonishing display of hubris, asked Pras if he would agree to perform a few Fugees songs for free as the opening act for her son, YG Marley, who was slated to perform at the same Coachella festival.”
Pras also claimed Hill only agreed to the full scale reunion to make up for poor solo show sales, something she vehemently denies.
Hill hit back at the claims, labelling them “baseless” and “full of unwarranted attacks”.
She suggested Pras’ decision to sue her stemmed from his own legal troubles last year when he was found guilty of illegal lobbying in the States.
Hill also claims she allowed Pras an advance of £2.3m from tour sales to help with his legal fees.
“I was not in Pras’s life when he decided to make the unfortunate decision that led to his current legal troubles,” she said.
“I did not advise that he make that decision and therefore am in no way responsible for his decision and its consequences though I have taken it upon myself to help. Despite his attacks, I am still compassionate and hope things work out for him.”
The group only has two studio albums, though second LP, The Score, has cemented them as R&B pioneers thanks to hit singles Killing Me Softly and Ready or Not.
It has sold an estimated 22million copies worldwide since its release in 1996.
Hill would release her one and only solo record two years later, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, landing another number one and a Grammy for Album of the Year.
