Pharrell Williams has gifted the entire 2022 graduating class of the Washington, D.C. public school system with free tickets to his Something In The Water (SITW) festival.

Williams announced that he would be giving all seniors free tickets to celebrate their achievement of completing high school.

Williams explained that he was inspired by the students’ ability to finish their education despite dealing with the pandemic in the last few years.

“Congrats to this year’s D.C. school graduates on all of the things you guys have accomplished. You truly inspired all of us through your resiliency and your ability to learn through a pandemic,” Williams said. “You deserve to be celebrated, and so we’re gonna—so on behalf of the Something In The Water and XQ Institute, we would like to gift each of you one free pass to the festival.”

“On Juneteenth weekend, we are going to celebrate with music, art, culture, and most importantly, you,” he continued. “So make sure to talk to your school leaders and make sure you get your details so that you can get your pass. And last but not least, I’mma see you there. Blessings.”

Mayor Muriel Bowser of D.C. congratulated the graduating seniors by sharing the video of Williams on her official Twitter account. She confirmed that every graduating senior from the public and charter school system would receive a free pass to the festival and shared how proud they are of the 2022 class.

“The school year is coming to a close, and we want every D.C. graduate to know just how proud we are of their accomplishments,” Mayor Bowser said. “That’s why all 2022 @dcpublicschools & charter school graduates will receive a free to @Pharrell’s SOMETHING IN THE WATER Festival!”

The second annual SITW festival will be held in the nation’s capital following Williams’ decision to pull out from his hometown of Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Following concerns about the mishandling of the death of his cousin, Donovon Lynch, at the hands of Virginia Beach Police, Williams called for a change in the judicial system, despite his festival easing racial tension and bringing an incline of revenue to the county.

Williams wrote a letter to Virginia Beach City Manager Patrick Duhaney outlining his reasoning for moving the festival.

“I love my city, but for far too long it has been run by — and with toxic energy,” he wrote. “The toxic energy that changed the narrative several times around the homicide of my cousin, [Donovon] 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,” Williams said. “I wish the same energy I’ve felt from Virginia Beach leadership upon losing the festival would have been similarly channeled following the loss of my relative’s life.”

In 2019, the festival brought in $24 million for the city, but the 2020 and 2021 editions were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Blavity-UBlavity-U-EntertainmentMayor Muriel BowserSomething in the water