Stephanie Mills Not Happy In a Letter Says She Never Knew Love Like This Before From Essence 2025

Essence Festival is ‘THEE’ festival of the year for African Americans across America, being deemed the festival of all festivals to attend and is on many, that has never attended, bucket list. The first Essence Festival was held in New Orleans in 1995, now known as the Essence Festival of Culture, is an annual celebration of African American culture, music, and empowerment held in New Orleans, Louisiana. It’s a large-scale event that includes musical performances, panel discussions, workshops, and various cultural experiences. The festival is a cornerstone event for African Americans and a model for other cultural festivals worldwide.  Essence Festival survived the COVID-19 pandemic but like anything else it has hit some bumps and bruises especially here in 2025.  On Sunday, July 6, the organizers of Essence Fest issued a statement over 24 hours after the Fugees artist took the stage at 2:30 a.m. The Superdome in New Orleans was almost empty when Lauryn Hill hit the stage for her hour-long set. Although some fans weren’t happy, Hill delivered her set as promised and even took requests from those who waited for her performance.   Essence Festival too the blame for L Boogies late set saying “The delay? Not hers. We will take that,”  Festival goers even voiced frustration over Target being a presence at this years festival following an ongoing boycott due to their DEI policy change.

Now Stephanie Mills is saying she has never knew love like this before.

Stephanie Mills penned a letter to Essence Festival stating she remains grateful for the opportunity however she held nothing back in her disappointment with the Essence Fest this year. In her open letter, Stephanie cites lack of professionalism, organization, and proper sound as a few of the reasons she wasn’t pleased this year. Beautifully written coming from disappointment, and not hate, Essence, is everything okay? We are all entitled to a bad one, but, what is Essence going to do to remedy this?

See letter below…then tell us how you feel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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