Pharrell Williams may not host his Something in the Water festival again in his hometown, Virginia Beach, because of the fatal police shooting of his cousin earlier this year.
As reported by Norfolk ABC affiliate WVEC-TV, the 13-time Grammy winner wrote a letter in response to city manager Patrick Duhaney, who had written to Pharrell saying he wanted to discuss having the event return.
Pharrell wrote that the goal of the festival was “to ease racial tension, to unify the region, bring about economic development opportunities, and broaden the horizons of the local business community. We achieved those things!”
“I wish the same energy I’ve felt from Virginia Beach leadership upon losing the festival would have been similarly channeled following the loss of my relative’s life,” Williams continued.
In the letter, Pharrell went on to say that he loves the city of Virginia Beach but for “far too long it has been run by, and with toxic energy.”
Pharrell ended his letter, writing, “I don’t have any problems with the city, but I realize that city hasn’t valued my proposed solutions, either.”
His cousin, Donovon Lynch, was shot and killed by a Virginia Beach police officer on March 26, 2021, and following his death, Pharrell called for a federal investigation.
The Something in the Water festival last took place in 2019. It was originally scheduled to return on April 22-24, 2022, but now, the future of the festival remains uncertain.
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