Pharrell Williams dismissed American politics as a “magic trick that isn’t real” while accepting the key to Miami-Dade County during the Black Ambition Demo Day.
The 13-time Grammy winner made the blunt statement Friday night (November 14) at Sacred Space Miami, where he was honored by Mayor Daniella Levine Cava during the fifth annual Black Ambition Demo Day.
The event, hosted by his nonprofit, supports Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs with funding and mentorship.
“I hate politics,” Williams said during a fireside chat with Mellody Hobson, moderated by Black Ambition CEO Felecia Hatcher. “It’s a magic trick that is not real. I don’t believe in either side, because I think when you pick a side, you’re inadvertently supporting division.”
The remarks weren’t out of character for the Virginia Beach native, who has increasingly distanced himself from traditional political discourse.
In September 2024, he told The Hollywood Reporter he gets “annoyed” when celebrities endorse candidates, adding, “nobody asked you.”
At Friday’s gathering, Williams tied his political skepticism to his broader mission of empowering marginalized communities through economic opportunity.
“Now that diversity is off the table, now that equity is off the table, now inclusion is off the table…that makes me ask myself, so how do we survive?” Williams said. “If diversity, equity, and inclusion never come back in style, cool. But in the meantime, I’m going to focus on being the best because I can bank on that.”
The ceremony also celebrated Williams’ growing footprint in Miami, where he’s invested in nightlife ventures like Swan and Strawberry Moon, and expanded his philanthropic reach through Black Ambition, which launched in 2020.
“There’s so much brilliance out there that never gets seen,” he said of the nonprofit’s mission. “That’s why we built Black Ambition, to make sure talent doesn’t stop at potential.”
This year marked the first time the Demo Day was held in Miami. The event awarded $1 million to 25 winners selected from a pool of 25,000 applicants.
The night ended with a surprise performance by Chance the Rapper.