Crush Reloaded: Honoring a Cultural Legacy While Building a Better Future

In response to recent inquiries regarding the post-event statement about the future of the festival historically known as Orange Crush, I want to clarify the vision going forward and address questions around the name and trademark concerns.

The spring beach gathering on Tybee Island has been a grassroots tradition since 1989 — one built by generations of students, locals, and culture creators. Over the years, the event grew in influence, but also struggled with organization, safety, and community relations. My team at Dubbshakaz Entertainment stepped in to help evolve and stabilize the event, culminating in the first officially permitted and structured festival on Tybee Island in 2025.

Moving forward, the event will operate under the name Crush Reloaded to reflect the elevated structure, professionalism, and positive partnerships we’ve established with the City of Tybee Island, local businesses, colleges, and sponsors. This is not an attempt to erase the past — it's an intentional step toward preserving the heart of the tradition while building something sustainable, inclusive, and legally sound.

Clarifying the Trademark Issue

The current holder of the Orange Crush Festival trademark, Mr. Turner, was not part of the official permitting process for the 2025 Tybee Island event. In fact, his involvement in previous years was largely tied to unofficial after-parties, which often faced shutdowns due to violations and lacked coordination with city officials.

In 2022, I entered into a written agreement with Mr. Turner granting full permission to use the name, logo, and related materials. At the time, he acknowledged he could not participate publicly due to an ongoing legal matter. Acting on good faith, I applied my company’s resources, event planning experience, and community relationships to organize the festival professionally under that agreement. I acquired business licenses in both Florida and Georgia, operated transparently, and took full responsibility for organizing every permitted event on Tybee Island.

After the festival’s success and positive city response, Mr. Turner unexpectedly demanded $50,000 for the continued use of the name — despite our existing agreement and the fact that all ticketing, partnerships, and logistics were handled by my team. His separate and unauthorized Eventbrite ticketing caused confusion and refund demands from attendees — damage that my company had to address.

Why "Crush Reloaded"?

We chose the name Crush Reloaded to reflect a forward-moving mission — one rooted in the original energy of the event, but reimagined through proper planning, community collaboration, and a renewed commitment to culture and student empowerment. We are continuing to partner with colleges, talent agencies, brands, and local leaders to offer students meaningful roles in production, performance, and real-world learning.

This isn’t just a festival — it’s a platform for education, entrepreneurship, and entertainment. That’s what Crush Reloaded stands for.

I welcome honest questions from the media and encourage ongoing dialogue as we work to build a brighter future for this historic tradition.

With respect,
Steven Smalls
CEO, Dubbshakaz Entertainment,