Erika Goldring/Getty Essence Fest has released a statement following Lauryn Hill's very-delayed performance at Caesars Superdome The singer was meant to take the stage at 12:30 a.m. but didn't go on until closer to 2:30 a.m. Hill performed songs from her Grammy-winning albumThe Miseducation of Lauryn Hilland chatted with audience members during her set Essence Fest is taking responsibility forLauyn Hill's late set time. The 2025 Essence Festival of Cultureposted a statement on Monday, July 7,addressing Hill's performance at Caesars Superdomein New Orleans to anear-empty stadium in the early morning hours on Saturday, July 5. "Family is family and around here we protect our own no matter what the PEOPLE have to say," began the statement shared onInstagram. "Let's be very clear— WE don't play about Ms. Lauryn Hill. Not for clicks. Not for headlines. She arrived on schedule, stepped on that stage, and delivered the kind of performance only a legend can." The festival addressed the setback on Hill's performance, which began at 2:30 a.m. and concluded at 3:37 a.m. "The delay? Not hers. We will take that. The moment? One for the books. The legacy? Still unmatched." "Put some respect on her name. Keep the takes, but keep her out of them," concluded the statement. "All love and deep profound admiration for Ms. Lauryn Hill. #ESSENCEFest25." Paras Griffin/WireImage The PEOPLE Appis now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Fans were grateful for the festival organizers taking responsibility for the delayed run of the show. "ACCOUNTABILITY!!! Thank you for addressing this for her 🙌🏾 all 50 of us enjoyed her that stayed til 3:30 am!!!!! Thank you Lauryn Hill!!," one fan wrote on Instagram. "👏👏👏👏👏👏,"Erykah Baduchimed in. "Accountability is everything. 🙌🏾 No event is perfect. ❤️ and our good sis has a bad rap for being late - thanks for setting the record straight," another fan wrote, alluding to Hill being known for late performances in the past. PerNola.com, the festival was running late from earlier in the evening, with the lineup also featuringMaxwell,Babyface, theIsley BrothersandGloRilla. Hill was a late addition to the festival's run of show that evening,Stereogumreported. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! The "Everything Is Everything" artist's original time slot was at 12:35 a.m., according to Essence Fest'sInstagram, making her performance two hours behind schedule. Erika Goldring/Getty Despite the late-night performance, Hill, 50, spent her set chatting with the remaining audience members at the Superdome, which can hold over 70,000 people. She took requests to sing "I Gotta Find Peace of Mind" and "Tell Him," perRolling Stone, and also performed songs from her Grammy-winning albumThe Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.Hill also sang withher sons, Zion Marley and Joshua "YG" Marley. The 2025 Essence Festival of Culture took place from Thursday, July 3 to Sunday, July 6. Read the original article onPeople