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Stephanie Mills Shares Honest Letter About Essence Fest Experience
The singer thanked organizers for the opportunity while addressing backstage challenges and calling for stronger event coordination moving forward.
As Essence Festival 2025 comes to a close, singer, songwriter, and actress Stephanie Mills shared her experience as a performer in a letter addressed to the organizers following a set interrupted by technical difficulties. She began by expressing gratitude for the opportunity to perform, but noted that she couldn’t fully enjoy the moment or entertain the audience due to major production issues. From the performances starting late, to the questionable artist selections, to the lack of inclusivity in the convention center programming — it just didn’t feel like the Essence I’ve known and loved.
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