Pharrell Williams Claps Back at Critics of His Politics: “Think on Your Own”

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.

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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