Lauryn Hill Breaks Silence on Pras Michel’s Fraud Accusations

On October 1, Lauryn Hill broke her silence about a lawsuit filed by her former Fugees bandmate, Pras Michel, who blames her for the failure of The Fugees reunion tour. Michel’s lawsuit accuses Hill of “fraud, breach of trust, and breaking their agreement,” among other claims.

As reported by Vibe, Michel claims Hill’s actions caused the tour to fall apart. The tour was meant to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Hill’s famous album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. In response, Hill took to Instagram to deny the allegations, calling the lawsuit baseless. She also pointed out that Michel received an advance payment, which he has not paid back.

Hill explained that she made sure Michel was paid fairly during the tour, especially since he was dealing with legal problems. She shared that she even added The Fugees to the tour to help Michel financially.

“The tour was expanded to include The Fugees because I found out Pras was in trouble and would need money to cover his legal defense,” Hill posted.

Hill added that she and fellow Fugees member Wyclef Jean took on most of the costs for the tour to ease the financial burden on Michel. She said Michel only needed to “show up and perform.”

Walker Town was just a mess. After waiting till 3am, Lauryn Hill was forced to perform with very poor sound. She struggled throughout her set and the worst of it is that Nyashinski didn't even perform. Eiii Kenya yetu. pic.twitter.com/BRPSDhMLoI

— Kent (@kentmkenya) September 30, 2024

Michel’s legal issues stem from his involvement in federal crimes. In April 2023, he was convicted of 10 crimes, including conspiracy and witness tampering. His legal troubles are tied to his connection with Malaysian businessman Jho Low. According to NPR, Michel used illegal foreign money to buy access to political fundraisers, including events to help re-elect former President Obama.

Well-known figures, such as former Attorney General Jeff Sessions and actor Leonardo DiCaprio, testified about Michel’s actions. Michel later tried to get a new trial, saying his lawyers did a poor job and used an AI program that harmed his defense. However, a judge denied his request for a new trial in August 2024.

With his legal bills growing, Michel hoped the Fugees tour would help his finances. If his claims against Hill hold up in court, he could receive a payout to help cover his legal costs. However, Hill continues to strongly deny any wrongdoing.