One day after the announcement of the cancelation of The Fugees’ reunion tour in the U.S., rapper-singer Lauryn Hill says she believes the tour was called off due to low ticket sales were caused by media “sensationalism.”
“With difficulty the decision was made to pull down our upcoming North American tour dates,” she wrote on her Instagram post.
“Last year, I faced an injury that necessitated the rescheduling of some of my shows. Regrettably, some media outlets’ penchant for sensationalism and clickbait headlines have seemingly created a narrative that has affected ticket sales for the North American portion of the tour. 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 also noted that shows overseas will still continue as planned: “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!”
She also expressed disappointment that her fans in the U.S. won’t be able to experience the show.
“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.”
She adds, “Know that I am not only grateful for those who appreciate and support my art, but that I FIGHT and push through all kinds of resistance to put together experiences that mean something for all of us. I love being able to bring these performances to you!”
Lauryn Hill performs onstage during the 2024 BET Awards at Peacock Theater on June 30, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET)
Lauryn Hill and the Fugees embarked on a reunion tour late last year. But after many of the concerts were delayed, Hill explained she had been struggling with vocal problems.
“As many of you may know, I’ve been battling serious vocal strain for the past month,” she said in a statement in November of 2023.
But it was her collective pattern and history of canceled dates throughout the years that led to social media backlash and widespread criticism of the “Ex Factor” artist.
In November, Hill addressed online chatter about her lateness to a crowd in Los Angeles saying: “You’re saying ‘She’s late. She’s late a lot.’ Yo, y’all lucky I make it on this … stage every night.”
“When The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill sold so many records, no one showed up and said, ‘Hey, would you like to make another one?’ So I went around the world, and I played the same album over and over and over and over again. Because we are survivors, and we’re not just survivors, we’re thrivers.”
