Essence Festival of Culture is taking responsibility for Lauryn Hill's performance ending after 3:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 5. The organizers released a statement on Instagram about the delayed set at Caesars Superdome.

Lauryn Hill has issued a formal statement following her delayed performance at the 2025 Essence Festival of Culture (July 3-6) — thanking festival organizers for publicly acknowledging that the late start to her set was not her fault.

Taking to social media, Essence Festival organizers, well aware of the complaints regarding Ms. Lauryn Hill’s set time, defended the veteran artist, who arrived onstage on July 5 at around 2:30 AM local time. Hill’s set reportedly concluded at 3:37 AM local time, as reported, with many attendees having already vacated the venue.