Pharrell Williams It has been announced that his Something in the Water festival will not return to his hometown of Virginia Beach in 2022, which he shared in a letter to city manager Patrick Duhaney published today (October 6). In the letter, Williams cited a “toxic energy” in the local government, pointing to the March death of his 25-year-old cousin Donovon Lynch. A Virginia Beach police officer, whose body camera was missing, shot and killed Lynch under controversial circumstances.
Upon Lynch’s death, Williams often spoke about the town’s failures to adequately answer questions about the shooting. He quotes Something in the Water, which is last made in 2019, as an important force in helping build community and bring much economic activity to Virginia Beach. His latest letter was a response to one from Duhaney at the end of September, according to local outlet WAVY. City officials expressed disappointment with the outcome.
“The manager and I want to connect with Pharrell, sit down to say things and that’s what we’ll take. We’re going to try to be positive about it and we’re going to try to make a case that, you know, we’re moving forward,” he said. Virginia Beach mayor Bobby Dyer of WAVY.
Williams did not disclose further details about the future of Something in the Water in the short or long term.