Jermaine Dupri is stepping in to do some damage control after social media has been rumbling over the forthcoming Freaknik documentary.
Last month, it was revealed that Hulu and Dupri were working on a doc about the popular 80s and early to mid-90s HBCU picnic that became a cultural phenomenon. Many expressed fears that individuals who attended the massive Atlanta festival were now older and would be displayed in a bad light. There were also fears that the footage would be triggering for some who experienced sexual assaults during Freaknik. Many pleaded with the film to be scrapped altogether. With so much controversy surrounding the film, the So So Def founder had to speak out in defense of the movie during a recent sit down with the “Tamron Hall Show.”
“My vision of Freaknik is really a story about the South and Atlanta,” he explained before confirming that the documentary is a far cry from what social media users are expecting. Instead, the executive producer says the film will showcase how Freaknik played a role in making Atlanta the Black epicenter that it is today. He says that many people who came from out of town for Freaknik stayed in the city. While “Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told” will focus heavily on the event’s influence, Dupri admitted that some wild moments would be shown.
“I can’t say that you won’t see freaking in this movie. It is called Freaknik. It is what it is,” the 50-year-old shared.
Aside from Dupri, Luther Campbell will produce, P Frank Williams will direct, and Geraldine L. Porras will act as showrunner. No official release date has been announced for the doc.
