Pharrell Williams is letting the world know he’s unbothered and unmoved. The hitmaker turned mogul used his moment at the 2025 FNNA ‘Shoe of the Year’ ceremony to address the uproar surrounding his recent political remarks.
Full story below…
On stage while accepting the award, Williams doubled down, urging folks to look deeper and reminding critics that his journey started far from the glitz, he said:
“Sound bite this. Since most people don’t like to read or do research anymore, sound bite this. God is the greatest. Soundbite this. I’m from Virginia. Soundbite this. You don’t know what I know. You ain’t seen what I saw. No, you ain’t been where I go. I’m from the mud. As a child, nobody’s been evicted more times than me. Lights turned off, water turned off, and at times, had to pump the water. I’m proletariat. In fact, I’m lumpenproletariat. Sound bite this. I had to stay on my feet. Soundbite this. But I could never walk in the shoes of my parents, parents, etc, all they had to endure while staying on their feet. Soundbite this. At least a couple times a day, put down your phone and think on your own.”
The star stirred controversy last month when, at the 5th annual Black Ambition Demo day, he declared that:
“I hate politics,” he said. “Like, despise them. It’s a magic trick. It’s not real. I don’t believe in either side. Because I think when you pick a side, you are inadvertently supporting division.”
Despite the uproar over his politics, it seems the ‘Happy’ hitmaker’s story can’t be reduced to a soundbite.
Watch his speech below:
Pharrell Williams responds to the recent controversy surrounding his political comments while accepting the 2025 FNAA ‘Shoe Of The Year’ award:
“Sound bite this. Since most people don’t like to read or do research anymore, sound bite this. God is the greatest. Sound bite this.… pic.twitter.com/llDF3dK4Sh
— Kurrco (@Kurrco) December 4, 2025
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This wasn’t a time for a clap-back, this was a time to learn and course correct. Growing up in poverty is all the more reason why people should participate in politics and collectively have a say in how their government operates. He missed the mark with his rebuttal and is showing us how far removed he is from everyday reality of everyday people.
Agreed. Tired of these Cxxning ass nxgroes that only lean back on black culture for gain but shuck and jive for the YT coin when its appropriate.
LV dropping him soon due to declining sales in 4, 3, 2, 1….(because even the YT folks are outraged honey and that says a lot in this capitalist society…oop)
Pharrell going out sad
gurl what the hell was that… why is he using lumpenproletariat as if it’s a positive adjective