Essence Festival organizers are taking the blame for Lauryn Hill’s late set on Saturday morning. Ms. Hill’s concert began at 2:30 am and ended just after 3:30 am.
Some blamed the late show on Hill’s reputation for being tardy to concerts, but those on the ground said the Essence lineup was behind all Friday night, leading to L Boogie’s overnight performance. The Essence Festival co-signed the information. A statement said, “Let’s be very clear— We don’t play about Ms. Lauryn Hill. Not for clicks. Not for headlines. (Hill) arrived on schedule, stepped on that stage, and delivered the kind of performance only a legend can.” Essence continued, “The delay? Not hers. We will take that. The moment? One for the books. The legacy? Still unmatched.”
One of the biggest stories out of the Essence Festival is that Lauryn Hill was on stage until 3:37 am local time. Video footage shows L-Boogie performing early Saturday morning in front of a few hundred people at the Superdome. Hill started her set at 2:30 am.
For once, fans are not blaming the notoriously late Hill for the problem. According to multiple reports, Hill was a late addition to Friday night’s lineup. Also, the concert was delayed most of the evening, with several artists beginning their performances an hour late.
Attendees claim Lauryn Hill ended the first night of the 2025 Essence Fest nearly two hours late, wrapping up at 3:37 A.M. — with only a few hundred fans remaining in the Superdome. pic.twitter.com/xrBpH38LF7
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) July 6, 2025
