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Singer Pharrell Williams may withdraw his Something in the Water music festival from Virginia Beach, where it launched in 2019, due to the city’s “toxic energy” and the way he handled the murder by the police of his cousin, Donovan Lynch, in March 2021.
In a letter Tuesday to Virginia Beach City Manager Patrick Duhaney, Williams wrote: “I love my city, but for too long it has been run by and with toxic energy. The toxic energy that repeatedly changed the narrative around the homicide of my cousin, Donovan Lynch, a citizen of Virginia, is the same toxic energy that changed the narrative around the mass murder and senseless loss of life to building number 2. “
Lynch was shot and killed by a Virginia Beach police officer on March 26, 2021, and her death was declared a homicide by the Virginia Chief Medical Examiner in August. Virginia Beach Police say officers responded to gunfire at a compound and Lynch pointed a gun at them. However, Lynch’s family claim he was legally permitted to carry a gun and would not have brandished it. There is no body camera footage because the officer involved did not activate his camera. No criminal charges were laid in the case, and Virginia State Police launched an independent investigation in March. Lynch’s father pursued the policeman who shot his son.
In response to Williams, Duhaney asked to meet the artist and “explore a way forward,” saying the 2019 festival generated an economic impact of $ 24 million. The 2020 and 2021 festivals were canceled due to the pandemic, but artists like Post Malone, Foo Fighters, Usher and many more were scheduled to perform in 2020.
Read Williams’ full letter below.
I love the city of Virginia Beach. I have always loved the city of Virginia Beach and especially our people. I am part of my beloved 757.
When we organized the festival, it was to ease racial tensions, unify the region, create opportunities for economic development and broaden the horizons of the local business community. We have achieved these things! I wish the same energy that I felt from the leadership in Virginia Beach during the loss of the festival would have been channeled the same way after the loss of my parent’s life.
I love my city, but for too long it has been run by and with toxic energy. The toxic energy that repeatedly changed the narrative around the homicide of my cousin, Donovan Lynch, a citizen of Virginia, is the same toxic energy that changed the narrative around the mass murder and senseless loss of life at building number 2.
I sang a room without a roof, but I’m sick of being shown the door nicely and politely.
Until the gatekeepers and the powers that be see the citizens and the consumer base and no longer see the idea of human rights for all as a controversial idea. I have no problem with the city, but I realize that the city has not appreciated the solutions I offer either.
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