In September, former Fugees member Wyclef released a memoir titled “Purpose: An Immigrant’s Story” in which he declared that group member Lauryn Hill led him to believe her first born child belonged to him, when in fact, the child’s father is Rohan Marley. Marley responded to Clef’s claims, saying he knew the child was his and that he was given the thumbs up by Wyclef to be with Hill.
With all the tongues wagging, Lauryn has kept quiet, until now. She addressed a crowd in Dallas while on tour for the reason she hasn’t spoken out, and it’s all in order to be the bigger person. “Let me tell you why I don’t chat back,” she said. “Because I know that my brothers and my sisters are often times pawns in a bigger scheme so when they, under pressure, attack me, I love them still. It’s called the high road. Try taking it sometimes.”
She also goes on to explain the reason for her silence is to not fall prey to societal expectation; a sort of silent strength. “I’m not going to play my hand like the suppressive system would have me play my hand. Because I know [about] the oppression that took place in Haiti, and Jamaica, and America, and Africa and Europe. So just be patient. The truth always surfaces,” she told the crowd.
See Lauryn’s full address to the Dallas crowd:
Lauryn Hill has recently taken the “high road” in responding to claims made by Wyclef Jean regarding his paternity. This controversy has been making headlines for months, and now Ms. Hill is finally speaking out on the subject. In this article, we will explore her recent statement about these allegations and what it could mean for both parties involved going forward.
The first time Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean collaborated together was back in 1997 when they worked on the Fugees album The Score. Their professional relationship soon turned into a personal one as rumors began to swirl that the two had an affair during their time together. Recently, Wyclef opened up publicly claiming he might be the father of Ms. Hill’s eldest daughter Selah Marley – sparking a media frenzy around the story.
In response to these claims, Lauryn Hill issued a brief but powerful statement taking the “high road” rather than engaging any further with these accusations. She did not confirm or deny them, instead opting to focus on continuing to protect her family’s privacy and well-being while asking everyone else to do the same. Let us take a closer look at what this means for both her and Mr. Jean moving forward.
Background Of Dispute
The dispute between Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean had been brewing for over a decade. In 2008, allegations surfaced that the hip-hop star was the father of Hill’s daughter Zion. The pair had worked together on two albums in the ’90s and were once close friends.
Jean denied paternity claims, although he admitted to having relations with Hill while they were both married to other people. He also publicly apologized when it became clear that his status as her mentor did not prevent their relationship from becoming romanticized by fans. On several occasions, he expressed regret for what happened between them and offered support if Hill ever needed it.
Hill has remained mostly silent on the issue since she made an initial statement back in 2008 denying any involvement or knowledge of Jean’s alleged parentage of her daughter. Recently however, she spoke out about the situation taking ‘the high road’ saying that she wishes to maintain a positive attitude towards him despite all that has transpired between them.
Lauryn Hill’s Response
When it comes to Hill’s response to Wyclef Jean and the paternity claims, she has taken a rather diplomatic approach. In an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine in 2018, Hill stated that “I don’t want [Wyclef] to be vilified because of his feelings towards me or what he thought was happening between us at the time… I’m not going to put any more negative energy into something that has already given so much pain over the years.”
Hill also acknowledged her own part in the situation and expressed hope for their future relationship. She said: “I also understand there may have been hurt on both sides due to our choices back then… I know we can look forward now and move ahead without being hindered by yesterday”. Her words demonstrate a level of maturity and respect which is admirable considering all they have gone through together.
It is clear that after almost two decades, Lauryn Hill has chosen to take the high road and focus on finding peace within herself as well as healing any wounds between her and Jean. Despite everything that happened in their past, she still wishes him nothing but success moving forward.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean’s dispute over paternity claims has been a long and complicated one. Despite the personal attacks that have been leveled at her by both Wyclef and his fans, Hill chose to take the high road in handling their situation. She refused to be drawn into a war of words with him or respond to any of his accusations. Instead, she opted for diplomacy when addressing the matter publicly and took responsibility for her own actions without pointing fingers or assigning blame.
Hill’s response was admirable considering how emotionally charged this issue is for her. It speaks volumes about her character as an artist and a woman that she chose not to retaliate against Wyclef but instead focus on finding a peaceful resolution to their disagreement. This decision likely saved them both from further public humiliation and animosity between each other.
It appears that Lauryn Hill is ready to put this controversy behind her and move forward with her career. Hopefully, she can find closure regarding this difficult chapter in her life so that she can continue to make meaningful music which continues to inspire generations all around the world.
