Lauryn Hill is being sued by a musician she once worked with, who says he was fired by the singer without ever being compensated for his work.
Trombone player Matthew Hartnett claims he collaborated with Ms. Hill in the studio in the summer of 2016, and shortly thereafter was offered a 10-week contract to join her on tour. He says he was released from working with the former Fugee before the tour even started, and there’s been no check in the mail since. He’s so fed up with the increasingly delayed payment that he is now seeking legal action.
This isn’t the first time the famed musician has been in the news for money matters. In 2013, Hill faced a judge for failing to pay taxes on $1.8 million in income from 2005, 2006 and 2007. She was eventually sentenced to three months in prison for tax evasion. In 2016, she spoke on her money problems via Twitter, saying “It has been an uphill battle, but we’re getting over the hump. I left the game, I wanted out, the way it was organized needed adjustment.” In 2011, she was reportedly sued by her former guitar player for $23,600.
In total, Hartnett is suing Hill and her touring company for $11,521.60, which includes the unpaid wages plus damages. Her reps have yet to respond to the lawsuit.
