Lauryn Hill Sued By Pras For Alleged Fraud and Breach Of Contract

Lauryn Hill, a prominent member of the iconic hip-hop group Fugees, has been sued by her fellow bandmate, Pras Michel, for alleged fraud and breach of contract. The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, contains multiple accusations, including fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and refusal to allow an audit of the Fugees’ tour finances.

Pras Michel claims that Hill mishandled the Fugees’ 2023 reunion tour, which was ultimately cancelled. According to Michel, the tour was poorly executed, with issues in budgeting, marketing, and overall management. He further alleges that Hill intentionally sought to benefit financially at the expense of the group, leaving him with no earnings while expenses skyrocketed. The lawsuit describes the tour as a “veiled attempt” by Hill to secure financial gains for herself, despite the tour being mostly sold out in advance.

Michel asserts that although the tour had the potential to be a major success, the budget was inflated with unnecessary costs, leading to financial losses. He also claims that despite receiving no earnings, he was left with nearly $1 million in unrecouped expenses. Hill is further accused of rejecting a $5 million offer for the group to perform at Coachella, allegedly due to jealousy over another band’s prominence in the festival lineup.

Lauryn Hill has responded to these accusations, calling the lawsuit “baseless” and filled with “false claims.” She countered by stating that Michel was overpaid for the tour, receiving a $3 million advance, which he had requested to cover legal fees related to his ongoing legal issues. Hill revealed that both she and fellow bandmate Wyclef Jean had deferred their own advances to ensure Michel had the funds he needed. She also mentioned that she bore most of the tour’s expenses and noted that Michel had not repaid his advance as agreed.

Michel’s lawsuit also contains allegations that Hill used her influence to secure Jean’s involvement in the tour, which she allegedly presented as a way to “save the day” for Michel amid his legal troubles.

Despite the current legal tensions, Hill expressed sadness over the situation, stating that she had previously considered Michel a friend. She emphasized that she had extended financial help out of goodwill but remains disheartened by the lawsuit. Hill also distanced herself from Michel’s previous legal decisions, which led to his recent criminal conviction.

Pras Michel’s legal issues extend beyond his dispute with Hill. In August, a judge denied his request for a retrial following his April conviction for conspiracy charges related to his involvement with Malaysian businessman Jho Low and the Chinese government. Michel was found guilty on multiple counts, including conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and witness tampering, and faces up to 20 years in prison.

Hill has yet to make further comments regarding the ongoing lawsuit.