Wyclef: Lauren Hill Really Needs Help

Wyclef Jean

Wyclef Jean has urged his troubled former Fugees bandmate Lauryn Hill to seek "psychological help", insisting her frail mental state has ruined chances of a reunion.

The rapper parted ways with the hip-hop group in 1997 but a short-lived reunion tour of Europe in 2005 coupled with a new single, 'Take it Easy', sparked speculation the band were getting ready to release a comeback album.

But the 35-year-old denies they are recording a new disc, because Hill is too "out of control" to work with.

He says: "Nothing is going to happen while Lauryn is in this weird place that she's in right now. She needs psychological help and I think it's about time someone spoke out and said this.

"You can see that something is seriously wrong. She goes around wearing weird green make-up and looking like a clown. At recording sessions she insists that everybody - including me - should refer to her only as 'Miss Hill'. I asked her what she was playing at and she said totally straight-faced that she thought it was easier because she figured we'd go crazy if she asked us to call her 'Queen'.

"The word 'diva' is an understatement. I believe she's completely out of control and has lost touch with reality. Lauryn has some serious issues she needs to address. This difficult side of her has taken over and it's about time someone called her on it."