Pras Michél sues Lauryn Hill for fraud and breach of contract over canceled Fugees tour

Pras Michél, co-founder of the Fugees, has filed a lawsuit against fellow bandmate Lauryn Hill, accusing her of fraud and breach of contract related to the group's 2023 tour. The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, claims that Hill mismanaged the tour’s budget, siphoned off profits, and unilaterally canceled the tour, citing vocal strain. According to the complaint, Michél and Wyclef Jean were kept in the dark as Hill controlled the tour finances, taking 40% of profits for herself. The lawsuit describes Hill’s actions as “devious” and accuses her of prioritizing personal gain over the group’s success.

In a statement to Variety, Hill dismissed the claims as “baseless” and “full of false accusations.” The complaint also alleges that Hill rejected a $5 million offer to perform at Coachella, without informing Michél, because she was upset that No Doubt was receiving top billing over the Fugees. Michél claims that Hill’s behavior and mismanagement of the tour left him with nearly $1 million in unrecouped expenses, while she kept a significant portion of the earnings.

The Fugees, known for their groundbreaking influence in 1990s hip-hop, have faced internal conflicts before, but this lawsuit marks a new chapter in their ongoing disputes.