<ul data-eligibleForWebStory="false"><li>Stephanie Mills penned an open letter to Essence criticizing the disorganization and poor execution of the 2025 Essence Festival of Culture.</li><li>Mills highlighted issues like poor time management, scheduling, and persistent failings with sound equipment, stating that the festival fell short of its usual standards.</li><li>Local vendors in New Orleans expressed grievances about being excluded from the festivities and criticized the 'Clean Zone Ordinance' imposed by Essence that restricted their operations during the event weekend.</li><li>Criticism of the festival also includes concerns about a shift away from Black American culture, lack of clear demographic focus, and accusations of the event being more profit-driven than community-centered.</li></ul>

Stephanie Mills Says Essence Fest Was ‘Chaotic’ And ‘Falls Far Short’ Of Previous Standard

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