Last week, reports surfaced claiming singer Lauryn Hill hadn’t paid taxes on earnings from music and film royalties equaling up to $1.5 million for the years 2005, 2006, and 2007. Hill took to her Tumblr page on Friday June 8 and responded to the charges in a long post, saying she has shunned society’s “climate of hostility, false entitlement, manipulation, racial prejudice, sexism and ageism.”
She continues, saying the reason for non-payment of funds to the IRS was to prioritize the well-being of herself and her family first “over all other material concerns.”
“Over-commercialization and its resulting restrictions and limitations can be very damaging and distorting to the inherent nature of the individual,” Hill wrote. “I did not deliberately abandon my fans, nor did I deliberately abandon any responsibilities, but I did however put my safety, health and freedom and the freedom, safety and health of my family first over all other material concerns! I also embraced my right to resist a system intentionally opposing my right to whole and integral survival.”
In the internet post, she explains that only since withdrawing from society did non-payment of taxes become necessary.
“My intention has always been to get this situation rectified. When I was working consistently without being affected by the interferences mentioned above, I filed and paid my taxes,” she wrote. “This only stopped when it was necessary to withdraw from society, in order to guarantee the safety and well-being of myself and my family.”
Hill’s most recent appearance was at Hot 97’s Summer Jam. The singer/rapper performed with rapper Nas in an unrehearsed performance after rapper Nicki Minaj was pulled off the bill.
