Waiting for your favourite artist to take the stage is part of the concert experience. However, waiting longer than the actual performance might not be your favourite part. Lauryn Hill has found herself facing fresh criticism after fans reportedly waited nearly two hours to see her perform at the Hollywood Bowl, only for the concert to last around 53 minutes.
The Grammy-winning singer reunited with fellow Fugees member Wyclef Jean on Sunday, 8 November, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their influential 1996 album, The Score. The Los Angeles concert was advertised for 7.30 p.m., but some concertgoers claimed the headliners did not take the stage until approximately 9.37 p.m. With the venue's 10.30 p.m. curfew approaching, there was precious little time left for the music.
The show reportedly featured two opening DJs, while anticipated guests Little Simz, Gunna, and Tiwa Savage were said to be absent. Fans praised the performances and a closing drone display, but others were less impressed by how much of their evening was spent waiting. The incident also reignited an ongoing conversation about Hill's concert start times, with Reddit users supplying plenty of punchlines of their own.
Two Hours of Waiting, Less Than an Hour of Music?
According to accounts reported by Parade, the late start left Hill and Jean with approximately 53 minutes before the venue's curfew. One attendee complained that the DJ had been left trying to entertain the audience throughout the wait. Another concertgoer described the experience as disrespectful, questioning why fans had waited two hours for a performance lasting roughly 50 minutes.
Not everyone was bothered by the waiting time, though. One attendee said the wait had been worthwhile, praising Hill and Jean for delivering hit after hit. The setlist included Fugees favourites such as 'Ready or Not', 'Fu-Gee-La', and 'Killing Me Softly With His Song', alongside material from Hill's solo career.
Reddit Has Some Questions About the Timing
The concert caught the attention of the Reddit community, where a post discussing the reported delay attracted thousands of upvotes and comments. One particularly popular joke imagined someone asking Hill whether she was attending her own concert, only for the singer to respond that she wasn't.
Another user referenced her celebrated 1998 album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, suggesting that the real lesson was being learnt by the audience. Others pushed back against the idea that fans should have expected a delay. One commenter argued that not every casual listener follows online discussions about an artist's concert history, and that paying customers should reasonably expect a timely performance. The frustration wasn't universal, but the jokes made it apparent that the waiting had become as memorable as the music.
Hill Has Addressed Late-Start Criticism Before
Hill has heard the complaints about her late starts before. After her delayed performance at the 2025 Essence Festival, she insisted that production issues were to blame, rather than her arriving late. Festival organisers backed her account and took responsibility for the delay.
She also dismissed the idea that she spends her time relaxing somewhere luxurious before deciding when to show up for a concert. In other words, Hill has made it clear that she doesn't appreciate being portrayed as someone who keeps fans waiting simply because she can.
The timing raised eyebrows again on 4 November, when Hill and Jean reportedly started their Berkeley Greek Theatre performance nearly two hours after the advertised start time. A venue curfew also cut into the evening.
Thirty years after The Score made the Fugees hip-hop royalty, their music still draws a crowd. Unfortunately, at the Hollywood Bowl, celebrating The Score comes hand in hand with keeping score of the clock.
