Singer Lauryn Hill recently addressed the tardy elephant in the room. The singer stopped during a set to make an impassioned speech, which included defending one hallmark of her performances: she's always late.
Hill, whose single album 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" is the subject of her 25th Anniversary Tour this year, is habitually late to her own performances, sometimes by hours. She was joined by her children and mother during this speech, which she made at the first stop of the tour in Los Angeles. In her address, she credited God with helping her make it in the industry "when there was no support."
In what was perhaps the most provocative part of her speech, Hill told the audience they should be grateful she makes it to the stage each night.
"Yo, y’all are lucky I make it to this bloodclot stage every night. I leave my soul on this stage. And I don’t do it because they let me do it. I do it because I stand here in the name of God. And I know it. God is who allows me to do it. He surrounded me with family and community when there was no support. When the album sold so many records and no one showed up and said, ‘Hey, would you like to make another one?'… We’re survivors. Not just survivors, we’re thrivers.'
She was not convincing to many people who watched the speech online, saying that they found her tardiness to be disrespectful of her fans' time.
People pointed out that singing on stage is her job, and some asked what would happen if they showed up hours late to their own work and told their managers to be grateful they were even there.
It wasn't just about time, others pointed out. People paid money for those tickets with the expectation of a performance, and a cultural understanding that concerts start on time.
You should know what you're in for if you buy a ticket to a Lauryn Hill concert, though. She's going to be late.
Some people pointed out that there might be more than the audience can see behind her habitual tardiness.
However, many agreed that they admired the absolute confidence it takes to show up late and then tell everyone they should be grateful you even showed up at all.
Hill's tour will continue for the rest of the year.