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Pharrell Williams withdrew his popular Something in the Water festival in Virginia Beach after a police officer killed his cousin earlier this year.
City leaders had called on Williams to restore the festival in 2022, but Williams criticized officials’ “toxic energy” in a letter this week.
The Grammy-winning producer, from the coastal town of southeastern Virginia, wrote: “When we hosted the festival it was to ease racial tensions, unify the region, create opportunities for development. economical… I love my city. , but for too long it has been run by – and – with toxic energy. “
In March, a Virginia Beach police officer shot dead Pharrell’s cousin Donovan Lynch, 25, and Deshayla Harris, 29, and injured eight others. The two officers present at the scene had not turned on their body cameras.
Lynch’s father filed a $ 50 million wrongful death lawsuit in June. In its response, the city said Lynch, who was black, pointed a gun at the officer who shot him. The officer, who is also black, “feared for his life and that of other officers and citizens nearby,” the city said.
According to the city, the total economic impact of the festival in 2019 was $ 24.11 million and was worth much more.
“As impressive as these numbers are, they are just that – numbers. We have not lost sight of the intangible and unquantifiable impact the festival has had on the social fabric of our community, ”wrote Patrick Duhaney, City Manager of Virginia Beach.
But Williams’ letter to city leaders said, “I wish the same energy that I felt from the leaders of Virginia Beach during the loss of the festival would have been channeled the same way after the loss of the festival. my parent’s life. “
The city’s appeal to Williams has been criticized on social media.
“Let’s get it straight. His cousin was murdered. They’re not doing anything not just for his cousin, but to help black residents feel safe and welcome, but he should ignore her and help the city get richer with its festival. They are not even reasonable ”, was one tweeted answer among others.
Mayor Bobby Dyer has asked Williams to meet to discuss the situation.
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