Just days before the domestic leg of the Lauryn Hill and The Fugees tour was set to begin, dates were quietly removed from the Ticketmaster site, with ticket holders receiving notifications about refunds, as Variety reported.
Naturally, the cancelation upset responses from fans who rightfully have their feelings about Hill’s complicated relationship with live performances. As Variety points out, this is the third year in a row that Hill and the group have “canceled some or all of their tour dates.”
One fan wrote, “ITS SO DISHEARTENING BEING A FAN OF LAURYN HILL. Last October, a hour before the show in Dallas, it was cancelled with no warning.”
Another wrote, “At this point if you purchase Lauryn Hill tickets, it’s on you,” referring to Hill’s tendency to delay and sometimes altogether cancel shows.”
Hours after the cancelation news, Hill took to social media with a statement to clarify, seemingly blaming the media for spinning a narrative around her.
“Last year, I faced an injury that necessitated the rescheduling of some of my shows,” Hill wrote in the post. “Regrettably, some media outlet’s [sic] 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.”
The post goes on to say that the U.K. and Europe dates are still on for the upcoming tour and are “moving on as planned.”
“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 of music. I can assure you that no one is more disappointed about not being able to perform than I am,” she wrote.
Hill’s statement led to another flurry of frustrated responses from her fans, many of whom have dealt with live performance issues from the Grammy winner at some point. Some wrote of Hill’s apparent “lack of accountability,” while others said they don’t even know if she “is going to show up” when purchasing tickets.
It begs the question: is it fair for Hill to blame the media for “creating a narrative” around her performance record when many outlets have simply reported her many delays, late appearances or cancellations over the years? Her contributions and talent are indisputable, which is exactly why fans still hold on to hope in seeing both her and The Fugees year after year and are often met with disappointment.
Perhaps instead of blaming the media for low ticket sales, more transparency could go a long way in rebuilding trust with some of her fans, who are still willing to spend their hard-earned money to see one of the greatest artists in the game take the stage.