Lauryn Hill sued by Prasa from The Fugees for fraud in connection with canceled tour

Lauryn Hill was sued by Prakazrel “Pras” Michel, member and co-founder of The Fugees, for fraud and breach of contract in connection with a canceled tour.

In the federal lawsuit filed in the Southern District of New York and obtained by USA TODAY on Tuesday, Michele accuses the singer of mismanaging the 2023 Miseducation Anniversary Tour, including marketing and budget, as well as attempting to “usurp control” by taking over the group’s business and trademark and unilaterally rejecting hip-hop trio Hill, Pras and Wyclef Jean’s $5 million offer to perform at this year’s Coachella festival.

The lawsuit alleged that Hill, 49, “took advantage” of Michel’s “vulnerable legal situation” by manipulating him to obtain unfair approval for The Fugees’ 2023 tour, according to a statement to USA TODAY by Michel’s lawyer Robert Meloni.

“It was a hallmark of the tour that Ms. Hill was chronically late, and performances routinely started at least two hours late,” the statement continued. “Hill canceled the second half of the tour, imposed a financial penalty and defrauded Mr. Michel.”

Michel also named Hill’s tour company, MLH Touring, as a defendant in the lawsuit. He is demanding unspecified damages.

In a statement provided to USA TODAY through Hill’s representatives on Tuesday, the artist responded to Michel’s claims: “I remained silent and pressed because I understand that Pras was under duress due to his legal disputes and that this may have influenced his judgment.” – claims. mind and character,” she said.

Michel was convicted in April 2023 in a multimillion-dollar political conspiracy trial. He is currently free pending sentencing and faces up to 20 years in prison. In response to his legal wrangling, Hill said Tuesday that she “wasn’t in Pras’s life when he decided to make the unfortunate decision that led to his current legal problems,” adding that she was “in no way responsible for his decision and its consequences, even though I decided to help.

Hill called Michele’s lawsuit “baseless” and “full of false claims and unsubstantiated attacks.”

“What is particularly omitted is that he was overpaid in advance for the last tour and had defaulted on significant loans I had taken out as an act of goodwill,” Hill said in a statement. “Last year’s tour was organized to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the release of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. There was a plan whether the Fugees would be involved or not.”

From August 2023: Lauryn Hill Announces 25th Anniversary Tour of Co-Founder’s Debut Solo Album Fugees

In his suit, Michel claims the tour was “actually a veiled and devious attempt to score big” for Hill.

The lawsuit alleged that a 2023 Fugees tour “would be a huge commercial success because most of the shows on the entire tour were sold out in advance.” However, Michele claims that the tour’s budget “was so bloated with unnecessary and most likely fictitious expenses that it seemed intended to be a waste of money” and maintains that he was left empty-handed.

According to Michel’s lawyer, Hill “presented false financial information and concealed her intention to take an inordinate 60% of the tour’s proceeds, leaving Mr. Michel with only 20% instead of the customary one-third division of the group.”

Hill also told USA TODAY on Tuesday in response to Michel’s lawsuit that “Pras has not refunded the money paid to him and is currently in violation of the terms of this agreement” and that he “basically just had to show up and perform” after stating that she “covered most of the trip costs herself.

The lawsuit comes on the eve of Hill and Wyclef Jean’s Fugees European tour, during which Michel will not perform.

More: Lauryn Hill says a media “sensationalism” led to the abrupt cancellation of her US anniversary tour

In August 2023, Hill announced a tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of her highly acclaimed debut album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”, but it was cut short when Hill decided to cancel the second half of the tour in November 2023, citing to “severe vocal tension.”

Hill addressed the previously canceled tour dates in a lengthy statement posted to Instagram on Aug. 7, writing, “Last year I suffered an injury that forced the postponement of some of my shows” and “unfortunately, the tendency of some media to seek sensationalism.” and the clickbait headlines apparently created a narrative that influenced ticket sales for the North American leg of the tour.”

Despite Michel’s lawsuit and “attacks,” Hill concluded her statement: “I continue to express my sympathy and hope that everything will work out for him.”

Contributions: Edward Segarra, Pamela Avila; USA TODAY