Pras Michel has sued Fugees bandmate Ms. Lauryn Hill in federal court over their reunion tour's 2023 abbreviation and subsequent 2024 cancellation, Variety reports.
Filed today in the Southern District of New York, Michel has brought forth a list of claims including fraud, fraud in the inducement, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, accounting and refusal to permit an audit of the tour. He alleged that Hill grossly mismanaged the setup, marketing and budgeting of the tour, which "was actually a veiled and devious attempt to make a big score for herself," adding that she also secretly siphoned off money from the tour guarantees.
According to the lawsuit, the Fugees reunion tour should have been "a huge commercial success, since most of the shows for the entire arena size tour were sold out in advance." However, Michel claims that Hill controlled the budget, which was "so bloated with unnecessary and, most likely fictitious, expenses that it seemed designed to lose money."
Hill is further painted as having "narcissistic tendencies" in a series of anecdotes, including one involving the singer unilaterally turning down a $5 million USD offer for the Fugees to perform at Coachella. "The reason was that her ego was bruised since the group No Doubt would be receiving top billing over the Fugees the night of their show," the document said.
Hill has responded to the lawsuit in a statement, calling it "baseless" and saying the Fugees were only added to the 25th anniversary celebration of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill because Michel needed money to aid his legal defence after he was found guilty of political conspiracy — although she says she wasn't "in his life" when he "decided to make the unfortunate decision that [led] to his current legal troubles."
Read Hill's full statement below. In August, Michel said that he was "both surprised and not surprised" by the way things transpired with the embattled tour.
Some clarity and facts need to be presented. I've been silent and pushing through because I understood that Pras was under duress because of his legal battles and that this was perhaps affecting his judgment, state of mind and character.
Fact #1: This baseless lawsuit by Pras is full of false claims and unwarranted attacks. It notably omits that he was advanced overpayment for the last tour and has failed to repay substantial loans extended by myself as an act of goodwill. Last year's tour was put together to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. It was being planned whether the Fugees were involved or not.
Fact #2: The tour was expanded to incorporate the Fugees because I found out that Pras was in trouble and would need money to aid his legal defence.
Fact #3: Pras was given a $3M advance for the tour, which he said he required to pay his legal fees. Wyclef and Myself deferred our full advances to make sure he had what he needed and was able to go. I covered most of the tour expenses, as the majority of the tour advance had gone to Pras. An agreement was put in place to secure the repayment of the money he was advanced. Pras has not paid back the money he was advanced, and is currently in breach of this agreement.
Fact #4: Because my tour, band, production, and set up were already happening, the Fugees set utilized this same production. I absorbed most of the expenses myself, produced the show, put together the entire set (with Wyclef's participation for the Fugees and Wyclef's set). Pras basically just had to show up and perform.
Fact #5: As of the last tour Pras thanked me for 'saving his life.' (I have the receipts.)
Fact #6: I am not in the business of kicking anyone, especially when they're down, which is why I haven't responded to date. It is absolutely disheartening to see Pras in this position, my band mate and someone I considered a friend but this leads us to Fact #7, which probably should have been Fact #1…
Fact #7: I was not in Pras' life when he decided to make the unfortunate decision that lead [sic] to his current legal troubles. I did not advise that he make that decision and therefore am in no way responsible for his decision and its consequences though I have taken it upon myself to help. Despite his attacks, I am still compassionate and hope things work out for him.
Respectfully, MLH