"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," Williams wrote.
"I love my city, but for far too long it has been run by — and with toxic energy," the "Happy" singer continued. "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."
Council liaison for the festival, Aaron Rouse, commented on both letters to WAVY, expressing the city has "a lot of work to do." The Virginia Beach councilman said he isn't confident about the concert's return and admits to a lack of leadership present in the aftermath of the shooting of Lynch.
"There was a lack of leadership when that happened. Myself and another colleague had to call a special session," he said. "You must provide more updates on the investigation into the deaths of Donovan Lynch and Deshayla Harris."
Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer wants to connect with the producer to find a solution.
"We're disappointed that he's feeling that way. Something in the Water was very, very big and positive for the City of Virginia Beach. Unfortunately, last year with the COVID, we had to cancel it. But once again … the manager and I want to connect with Pharrell, sit down, talk things out, and that's what we're going to take. We are going to try to be positive about this, and we are going to try to make a case that, you know, we are moving forward," Dyer said.
