Ms. Lauryn Hill isn’t exactly known for being the most reliable performer, and this weekend, she upheld that reputation. As The New York Daily News reports, the singer took the stage more than two hours late at her show in Atlanta on Friday, and her mic was cut off less than 40 minutes in due to Chastain Park Amphitheatre’s strict 11PM curfew. Hill unsuccessfully asked the venue for extra time and later defended herself vehemently to an annoyed fan in a video that’s been making the rounds on social media, saying, “My driver got lost — I can’t control that.”

NOT him dragging Lauryn to her face. She deserved it though! pic.twitter.com/zEuYUbnWoE

— N?TE (@NathanNAVY) May 7, 2016

Now, the erstwhile Fugee has shared a full statement regarding the lateness via Facebook, which you can read below:

I don’t show up late to shows because I don’t care. And I have nothing but Love and respect for my fans. The challenge is aligning my energy with the time, taking something that isn’t easily classified or contained, and trying to make it available for others. I don’t have an on/off switch. I am at my best when I am open, rested, sensitive and liberated to express myself as truthfully as possible. For every performance that I’ve arrived to late, there have been countless others where I’ve performed in excess of two hours, beyond what I am contracted to do, pouring everything out on the stage.

Because I care so deeply about the artistic process, I scrutinize, have perfectionist tendencies, and want space made for spontaneity, which is not an easy process, with the many moving parts on the road. Some days we are more successful than others re time. However, the vitality that is infused into the performances is always appreciated by the audiences, who may not know exactly what it took to accomplish. What hasn’t been touched upon by the media, I’m sure, are the hundreds of people who rushed the stage and stayed in excess of an hour after the show ended last night, just to connect.

Our challenge is to figure out the best way to accommodate the vitality, spontaneity, and spirit that make the performances worthwhile and special to begin with, while also making that experience available and accessible to others. If I didn’t Love and respect the art, I wouldn’t be doing this. The audience and I should have that in common.

My true audience knows emphatically that I care. It isn’t possible to affect people in any deep and meaningful way without putting sacrificial time in.

I have nothing but Love and appreciation for the fans in Atlanta, and regret not being able to give you a full show. We are figuring out a plan to make it up to you, and will announce details as soon as we have them.

Respectfully,
MLH