‘I’m not leaving the 757’
Star Pharrell Williams says he’s not giving up on region despite police shooting, surf park delays
“That was a toxic situation that was hurtful to my family. If you’re cool with it going down like that, then you’ve got to do some soul searching.”
Celebrity musician Pharrell Williams, who has been critical of Virginia Beach’s response to the police killing of his cousin
NORFOLK — Pharrell Williams is hopeful he can bring a healthy solution to what he has called “toxic energy” in Virginia Beach.
At a forum he hosted on diversity and inclusion in business Thursday night, Williams said even though he decided not to hold another Something in the Water festival in Virginia Beach, he’s not giving up on the city or Hampton Roads, and he’s eager to see the region grow.
“I’m not leaving the 757, I’m actually leaning in,” Williams said in an interview before the event at Norfolk State University. “I just want to give; I want to help.”
The celebrity musician who hails from Virginia Beach said he planned the forum dubbed “Elephant in the Room” in response to how the city handled the death of his cousin Donovon Lynch, who was shot by a police officer at the Oceanfront in March.
The state police are investigating Lynch’s death. Williams has said he’s disappointed in the city’s lack of action after the shooting.
“That was a toxic situation that was hurtful to my family,” he said. “If you’re cool with it going down like that, then you’ve got to do some soul searching.”
Williams also said his partnership in the Atlantic Park project at the Oceanfront, which will feature a surf park and entertainment center, is hanging in the balance as he waits for Virginia Beach to move the project forward.
“I’m disappointed at how long its taken to get done,” Williams said during the interview.
“Now is a moment where I get to see where the local government, city-wise, I get to see where their heart’s at, where their minds are. If we get the support that we deserve, then I’ll know.”
Williams arrived at the forum wearing a blue NASA jacket and sunglasses. He co-moderated Thursday’s inviteonly forum on an outdoor stage in the historically black university’s campus quad. He was joined by Virginia Beach native Ryan Shadrick-Wilson, senior advisor to the Center for Public Health at the Milken Institute.
Panel speakers included representatives from Norfolk State University, real estate developers, small businesses owners and nonprofit organization executives. Mayors of Virginia Beach and Norfolk attended.
The forum focused on three different themes: “Who We’ve Been,” “Who We Are Now,” and “Who We’ll Become.”