Pras Michel has dismissed his lawsuit against Fugees bandmate Lauryn Hill, which accused her of fraudulent actions leading to the cancellation of their 2023 reunion tour. The dismissal comes shortly before Michel begins a 14-year prison sentence for federal crimes. Both parties will bear their own legal costs.
In a filing on March 11 in the U.S. District Court Southern District of New York, Pras Michel voluntarily dismissed without prejudice a lawsuit he filed in 2024 against Lauryn Hill and her company, MLH Touring, Inc. The suit alleged breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, fraud, unjust enrichment, improper accounting, and refusal to allow a tour audit. Michel claimed Hill's actions, including chronic tardiness and mismanagement, caused the Fugees to cancel the second half of their 2023 reunion tour—tied to the 25th anniversary of Hill's album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill—just three days before it was scheduled to resume. He sought compensation for lost income, punitive damages, and legal fees, asserting that Hill took an excessive 60 percent share of proceeds instead of the group's customary one-third split and rejected a $5 million Coachella offer due to billing below No Doubt.
Michel's attorney, Robert Meloni, stated: “Ms. Hill’s chronic tardiness was a hallmark of the tour, with shows routinely starting two or more hours late. Hill canceled the second half of the tour and, at the same time, financially penalized and defrauded Mr. Michel.” The lawsuit further blamed late announcement and poor marketing with Live Nation for dismal ticket sales.
Hill responded in a statement: “I’ve been silent and pushing through because I understood that Pras was under duress because of his legal battles and that this was perhaps affecting his judgment, state of mind, and character. I was not in Pras’ life when he decided to make the unfortunate decision that led to his current legal troubles. 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.”
The dismissal occurs as Michel prepares to report to prison on March 30 to serve a 14-year sentence following his November 2025 conviction on 10 federal charges, including criminal conspiracy, illegal foreign lobbying, bank fraud, and campaign finance violations related to funneling money from Malaysian businessman Jho Low into Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign. Michel, who is appealing the conviction, was indicted in 2019 with additional charges added in 2021. The reunion tour with Hill and Wyclef Jean faced issues like soft sales, late starts, cancellations, and Hill's vocal problems. Hill has since performed with Jean at events including the SNL50 concert in February 2025 and a Grammys tribute to Roberta Flack.
