Pras Michél of The Fugees is suing his bandmate Lauryn Hill for fraud and breach of contract over the cancelled 2024 Fugees tour and 2023 tour that was cut short, Variety reports. The federal suit was filed in the Southern District of New York on Tuesday (10/1), and in it, Pras claims that Hill “grossly mismanaged the setup, marketing and budgeting” of the tours. He goes on to claim that Hill surreptitiously transferred money from the tour guarantees to herself, and claims that the the tour budget, controlled by Hill, “was so bloated with unnecessary and, most likely fictitious, expenses, that it seemed designed to lose money.”

Pras also claims that Hill turned down a $5 million offer for the Fugees to perform at Coachella this year because No Doubt would’ve topped the bill. “Hill’s arrogance was again demonstrated when she unilaterally rejected a $5 Million offer [to play Coachella],” the suit reads. “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 was 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.”

According to the complaint, Hill suggested reuniting Fugees to Wyclef Jean in spring of 2023, when she “realized that the only chance for her to perform at arena size venues and feed her insatiable ego would be to reunite with Michél and Jean and bill the 25th anniversary tour as a ‘Fugees’ tour.” Pras claims to have been exploited by Hill over his legal situation, where he was found guilty on 10 felony counts of political conspiracy in 2023, but instead of providing financial help, says he was left owing almost $1 million in unrecouped expenses, because, the suit says, “Hill was taking 40% of the tour guarantees and tour net profits ‘off the top’ for herself, leaving the remaining 60% to be split equally between Hill, Pras and Wyclef.”

Hill has issued a statement in response, which reads:

Some clarity and facts need to be presented. 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.

Fact #1: This baseless lawsuit by Pras is full of false claims and unwarranted attacks. It notably omits that he was advanced overpayment for the last tour and has failed to repay substantial loans extended by myself as an act of goodwill. Last year’s tour was put together to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. It was being planned whether the Fugees were involved or not.

Fact #2: The tour was expanded to incorporate the Fugees because I found out that Pras was in trouble and would need money to aid his legal defense.

Fact #3: Pras was given a $3M advance for the tour, which he said he required to pay his legal fees. Wyclef and Myself deferred our full advances to make sure he had what he needed and was able to go. I covered most of the tour expenses, as the majority of the tour advance had gone to Pras. An agreement was put in place to secure the repayment of the money he was advanced. Pras has not paid back the money he was advanced, and is currently in breach of this agreement.

Fact #4: Because my tour, band, production, and set up were already happening, the Fugees set utilized this same production. I absorbed most of the expenses myself, produced the show, put together the entire set (with Wyclef’s participation for the Fugees and Wyclef’s set). Pras basically just had to show up and perform.

Fact #5: As of the last tour Pras thanked me for ‘saving his life’. (I have the receipts.)

Fact #6: I am not in the business of kicking anyone, especially when they’re down, which is why I haven’t responded to date. It is absolutely disheartening to see Pras in this position, my band mate and someone I considered a friend but this leads us to Fact #7, which probably should have been Fact #1…

Fact #7: I was not in Pras’ life when he decided to make the unfortunate decision that lead 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. Despite his attacks, I am still compassionate and hope things work out for him.

Respectfully, MLH

Hill had made a statement about the cancelled 2024 tour back in August, saying that “some media outlet’s penchant for sensationalism and clickbait headlines have seemingly created a narrative that has affected ticket sales for the North American portion of the tour.” Pras, shortly after, released a diss track aimed at Hill with the lyrics “don’t blame me, blame her,” but later seemed to backpedal, saying it wasn’t actually a diss track and emphasizing that they were “family.”

This is a developing story; stay tuned for more details.