Lauryn Hill performed at the 2025 Essence Festival of Culture held at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, but her set was delayed until approximately 2:30 a.m. due to organizational issues. The late start resulted in Hill performing to a near-empty stadium, with her show concluding around 3:37 a.m. Festival organizers have publicly accepted responsibility for the delay, emphasizing that Hill arrived on time and delivered a strong performance despite the circumstances. They stated, "The delay? Not hers. We will take that." Hill herself addressed the situation, rejecting claims that she was "too important to care" about punctuality and calling such ideas "nonsense." She expressed appreciation for fans who stayed until the end and clarified that the production setbacks were not her fault. The Essence Festival's handling of the incident included defending Hill against criticism and urging respect for her legacy. The event's late timing and near-empty venue drew widespread media attention internationally.