Overview
- Accepting the honor in New York on Dec. 3, Pharrell received Shoe of the Year for his Adidas Virginia Adistar Jellyfish.
- He said the “I hate politics” clip reflected frustration over DEI donations drying up under new policies, vowing to keep fundraising to level the playing field.
- He spotlighted Black Ambition’s allocation of $85 million to support and mentor Black and Brown startups.
- He framed the remarks within a personal history of hardship in Virginia, citing repeated evictions and buying his first name-brand sneakers at 16 with a McDonald’s paycheck.
- The Virginia Adistar Jellyfish debuted at retail in August with strong sell-through and multiple colorways, with the FNAA award presented by Pusha T.