Ms. Lauryn Hill, Sued by Pras Over Fugees Tour Chaos, Calls Lawsuit “Baseless”

Pras has sued Ms. Lauryn Hill. A lawsuit filed today in a New York federal court, reported by Variety and viewed by Pitchfork, blames Hill for myriad faults, some fraudulent, that caused various Fugees dates to be canceled. Pras, who has been experiencing his own legal woes, is seeking compensation for lost income, as well as punitive damages, legal expenses, and more.

In an unorthodox move, the lawsuit’s introduction is written in the style of dramatic exposition:

Betrayals are always sinister, but the closer the betrayer, the greater the evil. Some say that God gives you friends to make up for your family. The Lord must have been off the day he paired Lauryn Hill with Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel, the plaintiff in this action, because the betrayal among the forged Fugees family has risen to Mythic proportions. This is their tale of woe.

Pras goes on to accuse Hill of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, improper accounting, unjust enrichment, and refusal to permit a tour audit, among other claims. He is seeking to take the case to a jury trial.

Among examples of what the lawsuit calls Hill’s “arrogance,” Pras and his lawyers allege that she “unilaterally rejected a $5 million offer” for the Fugees to perform at this year’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, because she would not accept billing beneath No Doubt. Pras claims he learned of the offer only when Hill, “in an astonishing display of hubris,” asked him to play Fugees songs for free as an opener at the festival for her son, YG Marley.

Pras goes on to claim he came away empty-handed from Fugees’ sold-out—albeit curtailed—2023 arena tour. He blames Hill for handling a budget “so bloated with unnecessary and, most likely fictitious, expenses, that it seemed designed to lose money.” Hill, the lawsuit goes on to allege, took 40 percent of tour guarantees and net profits “off the top,” before the remaining 60 percent was split equally between Hill, Pras, and Wyclef Jean. The second half of the 2023 tour was canceled in November that year—due to “serious vocal strain,” according to a statement at the time.

The band’s 2024 tour, canceled days before its kickoff date, became unfeasible due to low ticket sales, which Pras attributes to Hill’s reputation as an unpunctual performer and her delay in closing the deal with Live Nation Entertainment, leaving little time for promotion. At the time of cancellation, Hill had blamed the poor sales on the media’s “penchant for sensationalism and clickbait headlines.”

The lawsuit follows Pras’ release of a song called “Bar Mitzfa,” in August, that seemed aimed at Hill. Released exclusively through TMZ, the track introduced many themes on which the lawsuit elaborates.

In a statement shared with Pitchfork, Ms. Lauryn Hill pushed back on Pras’ allegations. She said:

Some clarity and facts need to be presented. I’ve been silent and pushing through because I understood that Pras was under duress because of his legal battles and that this was perhaps affecting his judgment, state of mind and character.

Fact #1: This baseless lawsuit by Pras is full of false claims and unwarranted attacks. It notably omits that he was advanced overpayment for the last tour and has failed to repay substantial loans extended by myself as an act of goodwill. Last year’s tour was put together to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. It was being planned whether the Fugees were involved or not.

Fact #2: The tour was expanded to incorporate the Fugees because I found out that Pras was in trouble and would need money to aid his legal defense.

Fact #3: Pras was given a $3M advance for the tour, which he said he required to pay his legal fees. Wyclef and Myself deferred our full advances to make sure he had what he needed and was able to go. I covered most of the tour expenses, as the majority of the tour advance had gone to Pras. An agreement was put in place to secure the repayment of the money he was advanced. Pras has not paid back the money he was advanced, and is currently in breach of this agreement.

Fact #4: Because my tour, band, production, and set up were already happening, the Fugees set utilized this same production. I absorbed most of the expenses myself, produced the show, put together the entire set (with Wyclef’s participation for the Fugees and Wyclef’s set). Pras basically just had to show up and perform.

Fact #5: As of the last tour Pras thanked me for ‘saving his life’. (I have the receipts.)

Fact #6: I am not in the business of kicking anyone, especially when they’re down, which is why I haven’t responded to date. It is absolutely disheartening to see Pras in this position, my band mate and someone I considered a friend but this leads us to Fact #7, which probably should have been Fact #1…

Fact #7: I was not in Pras’ life when he decided to make the unfortunate decision that lead to his current legal troubles. I did not advise that he make that decision and therefore am in no way responsible for his decision and its consequences though I have taken it upon myself to help. Despite his attacks, I am still compassionate and hope things work out for him.

Respectfully, MLH