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VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia – Something in the water won’t come back in 2022.
In a letter to Virginia Beach City Manager Patrick Duhaney, Pharrell Williams, the festival’s creator and native of Virginia Beach, says the city has been run by “toxic energy” for far too long.
Pharrell’s letter was in response to Duhaney’s letter expressing his disappointment to learn that SITW 2022 may not happen.
The letter from the city manager requested to meet with Pharrell and the festival leaders before making the final decision to cancel SITW.
In response, Pharrell writes how he wishes Virginia Beach rulers had the same energy when his relative, Donovon Lynch, was fatally shot by a Virginia Beach officer on March 26, as they do for losing the festival.
“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,” he writes.
Pharrell says the city is run by toxic energy and says the same toxic energy repeatedly changed the narrative around Lynch’s death and the mass shooting in Building 2.
He writes that he doesn’t have a problem with the city but thinks Virginia Beach doesn’t like the solutions he offers.
Donna MacMillan-Whitaker, who is part of the festival’s organizing team, confirmed to News 3 that the festival will not be held in Virginia Beach in 2022.
“Confirmed. The festival will not be held in Virginia Beach next year. Pharrell loves the people of Virginia Beach and wants positive change and equality for everyone. We are all disappointed, but I hope this will can be a catalyst for positive change for our city in the future, ”said MacMillan-Whitaker.
Virginia Beach residents spoke about the decision at Tuesday night’s city council meeting.
“He’s not going to listen to what you say. He’s going to watch your actions,” Gary McCollum said. “The actions you take do not move us forward.”
News 3 spoke with Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer after Tuesday night’s city council meeting.
“Pharrell is an icon here, and we love him in Virginia Beach. He’s done a lot of great things for our community,” Dyer told News 3. “Right now we’re just trying as a town to go. moving forward in the right direction. But, I think at this point it’s going to be essential that we sit down, one-on-one, and talk to Pharrell. ”
Dyer also had a direct message to Pharrell.
“Let’s talk. Let’s come to an agreement,” he said. “Let’s find a positive bridge and see if we can move forward again.”
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