RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. — A proposed beach party to highlight businesses on Singer Island sparked outrage from residents days before the event.
"We were told we need to get off their island," event director Rebecca Desir said. "We were told that we were a bunch of gangs and thugs."
She said as soon as the flyers went out about their "Wet Dreams" event being held on Singer Island, the hate came flooding in.
"We received phone calls stating that Will is a pimp and our work is with prostitutes and we're bringing pornography to the beach," she said.
Desir said "Wet Dreams" was a beach party held Sunday with cabanas, a full bar, food and a live DJ at Ocean Mall Beach.
She said they began working on the permit process with the city of Riviera Beach in April.
The city sent a statement that reads, in part:
"The event organizers have provided the city with a public safety and parking plan as well as crowd control measures, all while obtaining the appropriate number of law enforcement as prescribed by the interim chief of police and his command staff. Fourteen sworn law enforcement officers and 40 private security personnel will be on hand to account for the maximum attendance of 1,000 persons."
Desir said the day of the event, things got hostile with folks on the beach who didn't want them there.
"We received a few people, drunk people just yelling, screaming 'Get off their beach,' stealing our products," she said.
Several businesses like Wok on the Beach shut down for the day. The manager said the business didn't have enough parking for customers, and they've dealt with events in the hundreds but not in the thousands.
"And then, also, it's going to be pretty much people are going to be drinking and stuff like that," manager PK Limpamuwat said. "So we think it's going to be a lot of drunk people around the business, so we were worried there might be some problems."
Limpamuwat was asked about spring break.
"It's not even that a lot of people come to drink," he said. "Most people will hang out at the beach."
According to the city, there were no calls for service and no incidents during the event.
Desir said it's sad a few people tried to ruin a fun day.
"Shame on you," she said. "You do not own the beach."
Singer Island is the district of Councilwoman Julia Botel. WPTV contacted her and she declined an interview because of a previous engagement.
At Wednesday's City Council meeting, a crowd of people is expected to show up and voice their displeasure with what occurred on Singer Island.