Lauryn Hill is once again in the spotlight—but not for the reasons fans were hoping. The iconic singer sparked a wave of frustration on TikTok after showing up nearly two hours late to her scheduled set at the 2025 Essence Festival in New Orleans.
Fans Left Waiting Until 2:35 AM
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill star was originally scheduled to hit the stage by 12:35 AM, but concertgoers were still sitting and waiting into the early hours of the morning. Some began leaving as the night dragged on, and by 2:35 AM, when Hill finally began her performance, hundreds of seats were visibly empty.
A TikTok video by @morgand.23 went viral showing the once-packed venue with large sections of vacant chairs and fans asking, “Where is Lauryn?” The frustration was palpable, but what many didn’t know was that delays began much earlier in the evening, throwing off the entire show schedule—not just Hill’s set.
Another clip shared by @keoishakatarra captured Lauryn performing to a smaller-than-expected crowd, with the front of the stage sparsely filled and much of the stadium already emptied out.
Not Entirely Her Fault — This Time
While Lauryn Hill has a well-documented history of tardiness, including multiple past performances where she arrived significantly late, fans and insiders were quick to clarify that this particular delay wasn’t entirely on her.
@morgand.23
A Reddit thread discussing the show highlighted that production issues and poor event organization resulted in every artist performing late, causing a domino effect throughout the night.
@keoishakatarra Lauren Hill came out at 2:30am🥱 on night 1 of the concert series but it was definitely a experience seeing as this my first time seeing her. Aint no telling when it will happen again #essencefest2025 #Laurenhill #blackexcellence #luckilyimanightshifter
Even fans who left before Hill’s set acknowledged that the delays weren’t unique to her.
@authenticlee_ wrote: “This time I can’t say it was all her fault. The whole show was running an hour to an hour and half behind. We left at 2:20am.”
Still, some concertgoers didn’t hold back:
@patimuba: “Not another dime will [I] spend on any performer that disrespects their fans like this.”
@cherlyncarby: “Does she only perform during these hours? Unbelievable.”
@stillstrill: “The real question is why are you still there waiting at 2:28am?”
Lauryn Hill’s Reputation for Tardiness Lingers
Even though this particular delay may not have been Hill’s fault, her reputation for showing up late to concerts didn’t help her case. One commenter recalled seeing her at Voodoo Fest, where she also showed up late and had her set cut off mid-song—a moment that has stuck with fans for years.
@monilove1908 Where is @Lauryn hill Official? #essencefest
@nolajerin7 wrote: “They let her finish her set on another stage, and she was late to that!”
Final Thoughts
Despite the backlash, Hill’s performance—once it began—was praised by those who stayed. But the optics of a mostly empty venue and an early morning start time did little to soften the blow.
Whether or not Hill was personally responsible for this delay, the trust between her and fans continues to wear thin—and Essence Festival 2025 may be remembered just as much for the wait as the music.
