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 is off the hook as Essence takes blame for a set that wrapped after 3:30 a.m. Stephanie Mills, however, is still hot over how the festival was run.

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.