Lauryn Hill Says Threats Prevented Her From Paying Taxes

Lauryn Hill says a series of “very real threats” are what caused her to skip out on her taxes.

The former Fugees singer said in court documents that she decided to step away from her music career after receiving a number of threats directed at her family. Hill filed paperwork in a New Jersey court asking for leniency in her upcoming sentencing.

The singer was accused of not filing her taxes between 2005 and 2008. Each count carries a penalty of one year in prison and a $1,000 fine. If the judge decides to make an example out of Lauryn Hill, then she could spent quite a bit of time behind bars.

Although she owes nearly $1.8 million in back taxes, the singer is asking the court to take into consideration the threats she has received in the past. Court documents state that “withdrew from society at large due to what she perceived as manipulation and very real threats to herself and her family.”

Lauryn Hill also stated in the paperwork that the court should “take into consideration [that] it would be much easier to pay back taxes if she is placed on probation and continued to work.”

While the singer mentioned that she has received threats, Hill did not elaborate further. She previously stated that the reason she decided to step out of the public eye was to get in touch with her musical roots.

Hill previously touched on the reasons she skipped out on her taxes in a lengthy statement released last year. The musician said:

“As my potential to work, and therefore earn freely, was being threatened, I did whatever needed to be done in order to insulate my family from the climate of hostility, false entitlement, manipulation, racial prejudice, sexism and ageism that I was surrounded by. This was absolutely critical while trying to find and establish a new and very necessary community of healthy people, and also heal and detoxify myself and my family while raising my young children.”

What do you think about the threats that were allegedly made against Lauryn Hill? Do you think she could be given leniency as a result?

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