Stephanie Mills penned an open letter to Essence criticizing the disorganization and poor execution of the 2025 Essence Festival of Culture.
Mills highlighted issues like poor time management, scheduling, and persistent failings with sound equipment, stating that the festival fell short of its usual standards.
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.
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.