Lauryn Hill has lashed out at the media, blaming “sensationalism and clickbait headlines” for the poor ticket sales of her US tour with the Fugees, which ultimately led to its cancellation.
Earlier this week, it emerged that the 18-date tour, which was scheduled to kick off Friday in Tampa, Florida, and include the Hollywood Bowl on September 17 before wrapping up with dates in New York and New Jersey on September 20 and 21, had been quietly cancelled.
Ticket holders received messages from Live Nation on Tuesday that simply said, “Your event has been canceled. A refund will be issued to your account shortly,” according to Variety.
Hill has since released a statement explaining why the US leg of the tour was cancelled.
“Last year I was faced with an injury that required the rescheduling of some of my shows. Unfortunately, some media outlets’ penchant for sensationalism and clickbait headlines apparently created a narrative that affected ticket sales for the North American leg of the tour,” she said, according to The Guardian. “The confidence and faith I have in my intentions and commitment to my art seems to have been overshadowed by this unfortunate performance.”
Hill explained that the October dates in Manchester, England, London, Paris and Amsterdam would still go ahead as planned.
“For our fans in North America, when these unforeseen circumstances are resolved, we will be back in full force,” she added.
Hill went on to describe his live performances as “a profound exchange of energy and emotion that excites me every time. Each show is a piece of my expression and a testament to our connection and shared love of music. I can assure you that no one is more disappointed than I am that I won’t be able to perform.”
The Fugees, featuring Hill alongside rappers Wyclef Jean and Pras, released their debut album in 1994 and rose to international fame with their 1996 release, “The Score,” which included popular songs like “Ready or Not” and their rendition of “Killing Me Softly.” After disbanding in the late ’90s, Hill released her solo album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” in 1998.
Hill never released a follow-up album but continued to perform live. The Fugees, meanwhile, reunited for a tour in 2005 but disbanded again shortly after. In 2021, the band announced a 25th anniversary tour for “The Score,” but it was ultimately postponed and canceled, with the band citing the challenges of touring during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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