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6d ago

Essence Festival Admits Scheduling Failures and Prompts Calls for Overhaul

Organizers accepted fault for Lauryn Hill’s two-hour delay, prompting artists to demand comprehensive scheduling and technical reforms for future festivals.

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Stephanie Mills, performing July 6 at Essence Fest, criticized the festival's production staff for their "overall level of professionalism."
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Overview

  • Essence Festival posted an Instagram statement on July 7 accepting responsibility for Lauryn Hill’s performance starting at 2:30 a.m. instead of its scheduled 12:35 a.m. slot.
  • Lauryn Hill thanked organizers on July 8 for clarifying the cause of the delay and underscored her hands-on role in every aspect of her show production.
  • Stephanie Mills issued an open letter highlighting severe scheduling gaps, backstage chaos, and sound system technical failures that hampered her own set.
  • Fans and fellow artists, including Erykah Badu, celebrated the festival’s accountability and defended Hill’s professionalism after her near-empty late-night set.
  • Calls are mounting for a thorough review of Essence Festival’s operational structure to prevent cascading delays and improve artist and audience experiences.