Pras Michél Sues Lauryn Hill, Alleging Fraud and Mismanagement in Canceled Fugees Tour

Pras Michél, a founding member of the legendary hip-hop group The Fugees, has filed a federal lawsuit against his former bandmate Lauryn Hill. The suit, filed in the Southern District of New York on Tuesday, accuses Hill of fraud, breach of contract, and mismanagement related to their 2023 tour, which was cut short.

Michél claims that the tour, which had the potential to be a major success, suffered from Hill’s financial mismanagement. He alleges that she diverted funds from the tour for personal gain, leaving the rest of the group without their fair share. The suit also addresses the abrupt cancellation of the second half of the tour in November 2023, which Hill attributed to vocal strain.

The lawsuit goes on to describe several instances where Michél believes Hill acted unfairly, including her decision to turn down a $5 million offer for the Fugees to perform at Coachella. According to Michél, she rejected the deal because she didn’t want to share the stage with No Doubt, who were headlining the same night. Michél claims he was unaware of the offer until it was too late.

The Fugees, formed in the late 1980s by Hill, Michél, and Wyclef Jean, are widely regarded as one of the most influential hip-hop groups of the 1990s, with their album The Score selling over 22 million copies worldwide. Despite their success, tensions within the group have persisted, and Michél’s lawsuit brings their ongoing issues to light.

Michél also points out that the canceled tour came at a difficult time for him as he was dealing with mounting legal fees related to his involvement in the 1MDB financial scandal. He claims Hill exploited his situation by mishandling the tour funds and further complicating the group’s reunion.

Additionally, the lawsuit accuses Hill of securing an 18-show U.S. tour for 2024 without informing Michél. He believes her lack of urgency in finalizing the deal and minimal marketing efforts led to low ticket sales, resulting in the tour’s cancellation.

This case adds to a list of complaints about Hill’s professional conduct, including frequent delays at performances. Recently, she faced backlash after showing up four hours late for a concert in Nairobi, Kenya.