GRiZ’s Seven Stars Festival will go on hiatus and search for a new home after its current site in Virginia was revealed to be a former plantation.
The dubstep star apologized for the oversight and shared his decision to move the festival away from the Oak Ridge Estate in Arrington, Virginia, in a heartfelt video posted to Instagram today, following weeks of online discourse about whether a festival built around inclusivity should be held on land with such a painful history.
Seven Stars’ second edition at the 4,800-acre farm in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains was held from October 9-11. Historical records indicate 124 people were at one point enslaved on the property, according to the estate’s website.
“Last Sunday, I learned the history of the land where Seven Stars was held; that Oak Ridge Farm was once a plantation,” GRiZ said. “Prior to year one, members of my team were made aware of this history. They took steps to consult with scholars and educators at UVA, but they did not bring that knowledge to me.”
“I had naively assumed that if an issue of this weight arose, it would be brought to my attention, but true leadership does not allow for deflecting of accountability,” he continued. “This responsibility for what happens under my name sits squarely on my shoulders. This fell on my watch and the failure is entirely mine.”
GRiZ went on to address the often hateful online discourse that followed after the venue’s past was surfaced by Black creators on social media and speak “directly to our brown and black community members.”
“You spoke your truth and in return, you were met with vitriol, racism and hateful attacks. That response is utterly unacceptable,” GRiZ said. “It stands in direct contradiction to every value this movement was built on. I see you, I hear you, and I stand with you. And I am sorry that you were subjected to that ugliness.”
He continued: “GRiZ shows are a safe space for all colors of the rainbow. We value your race, your color, class, creed, your gender and your orientation. If you do not share these fundamental values of dignity, equality, and basic human respect, let me be entirely clear, you are not a GRiZ fan and this space is not for you.”
A timeline for the festival’s return is yet to be announced.
Watch GRiZ’s full response in the post below.
Featured image courtesy: GRiZ. Credit: Jason Siegel.