Lauryn Hill Cancels U.S. Tour Dates Due To Low Ticket Sales, Blames ‘Clickbait Headlines’

Singer Lauryn Hill explained her decision to cancel the United States leg of her upcoming concert tour with the Fugees, blaming low ticket sales on unflattering media coverage last year.

The 49-year-old recording artist abruptly canceled her scheduled performances just days before the first show was slated to take place in Tampa on Friday.

“With difficulty the decision was made to pull down our upcoming North American tour dates,” Hill wrote in a statement shared in an X post. “The shows in the UK and Europe ARE MOVING FORWARD as planned.”

“Last year, I faced an injury that necessitated the rescheduling of some of my shows,” the post continued. “Regrettably, some media outlets’ penchant for sensationalism and clickbait headlines have seemingly created a narrative that has affected ticket sales for the North American portion of the tour. The trust and faith I have in my intentions and my commitment to my art seem to have been overshadowed by this unfortunate portrayal.”

The “Killing Me Softly” singer went on to hype the overseas concerts she’s still planning to have. 

“The audiences in the UK and Europe not only haven’t seen the Miseducation Anniversary performance yet, they also haven’t seen the Fugees perform together in over 25 years!” she wrote before turning her attention back to the United States. 

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“Performing for my fans is a profound exchange of energy and emotion that excites me every time. Every show is a piece of my expression and testament to our connection and shared love for music. I can assure you that no one is more disappointed about not being able to perform than I am,” Hill continued.

“Know that I am not only grateful for those who appreciate and support my art, but that I FIGHT and push through all kinds of resistance to put together experiences that mean something for all of us. I love being able to bring these performances to you!”

The singer also promised to return to the United States “in full force” sometime in the future. 

Hill faced criticism for canceling shows in 2023, citing a battle with vocal strain. Fans also called out the singer for her history of last-minute cancellations and late start times. She addressed the ongoing drama from the stage at an L.A. concert in 2023. 

“You’re saying ‘She’s late. She’s late a lot,’” she said at the time, per Variety. “Yo, y’all lucky I make it on this … stage every night. … I don’t do it because they let me do it. I do it because I stand here in the name of God and I do it.”

She continued, “God is the one who allows me to do it, who surrounded me with family and community when there was no support… When [the debut] sold so many records, no one showed up and said, ‘Hey, would you like to make another one?’ So I went around the world, and I played the same album over and over and over and over again. Because we are survivors, and we’re not just survivors, we’re thrivers.”