Fugees HUGE UK tour at risk as band go to war with legal threats and tickets left unsold
THE FUGEES’ UK and Ireland reunion tour hangs in the balance as warring members trade legal threats.
The legendary 90s group, which consists of Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean and Michél Pras – is scheduled to play Dublin, London, Manchester and Cardiff later this month.
An ongoing feud between Hill and Pras over allegations of fraud and contract breaches has threatened to derail the gigs, with Pras no longer taking part.
Group co-founder Pras has called his bandmate “narcissistic and arrogant”, and claims “fictitious expenses” from the band’s 2023 tour had a serious impacted on profit margins.
The band postponed tour dates last year after Hill suffered “serious vocal strain”, however, this summer later further shows were axed in the US due to “gross mismanagement”.
Tickets for upcoming shows remain on sale on Ticketmaster, with multiple seating blocks available.
Standing tickets are priced at an eye-watering £285 for the O2 Arena gig.
Meanwhile, Pras and Hill have also clashed over a lucrative offer made to the group earlier in the year.
It is alleged Coachella Festival organisers offered The Fugees $5million to perform, but Hill declined without consulting her bandmates after learning they wouldn’t be headlining.
A statement filed by Pras’ legal team states: “The reason was that her ego was bruised since the group No Doubt would be receiving top billing over The Fugees the night of their show.
“Hill never told Pras about the offer or that she had rejected it. Pras only learned about it when it was too late, after Hill, in an astonishing display of hubris, asked Pras if he would agree to perform a few Fugees songs for free as the opening act for her son, YG Marley, who was slated to perform at the same Coachella festival.”
Pras also claimed Hill only agreed to the full scale reunion to make up for poor solo show sales, something she vehemently denies.
Hill has hit back at the claims, labelling them “baseless” and “full of unwarranted attacks”.
She suggested Pras’ decision to sue her stemmed from his own legal troubles last year when he was found guilty of illegal lobbying in the States.
Hill also claims she allowed Pras an advance of £2.3m from tour sales to help with his legal fees.
“I was not in Pras’s life when he decided to make the unfortunate decision that led to his current legal troubles,” she said.
“I did not advise that he make that decision and therefore am in no way responsible for his decision and its consequences though I have taken it upon myself to help. Despite his attacks, I am still compassionate and hope things work out for him.”
The group only has two studio albums, though second LP, The Score, has cemented them as R&B pioneers thanks to hit singles Killing Me Softly and Ready or Not.
It has sold an estimated 22million copies worldwide since its release in 1996.
Hill would release her one and only solo record two years later, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, landing another number one and a Grammy for Album of the Year.