Twitter exploded when the infamous Billy McFarland announced Fyre Festival 2. McFarland recently tweeted he is working on a second iteration of the first disastrous event. The failed business mogul was at the center of a scandal in 2017. He promised a luxury music festival on Pablo Escobar’s rumored former private island in the Bahamas but had to relocate to Great Exuma island within weeks of the festival.
It was slated for the weekends of April 28-30 and May 5-7 of that year. Unfortunately, it was a notorious disaster due to many issues. McFarland announced the sequel to the catastrophe—less in the style of a teaser and more in the form of an outright guarantee. Can he really pull it off with such a massive failure under his belt?
Fyre Fest Controversy
McFarland, rapper Ja Rule, and promoters advertised Fyre Festival as a luxurious music event on Norman’s Cay in The Bahamas. Prominent social media influencers like Kendall Jenner and supermodels Hailey Baldwin and Bella Hadid endorsed the festival. Organizers promised high-end accommodations, extravagant meals, and performances by popular artists like Blink-182 and Migos. Promoters advertised it as an “immersive music festival.” However, upon arrival, chaos met excited festival-goers, and they quickly realized their promised music fantasy was closer to a tragedy.
How Bad Was It?
Music fans eagerly paid upwards of $1,595 for tickets to Fyre Fest. However, when they arrived on the island, attendees quickly discovered that accommodations were far from what the promoters pledged. Instead of the deluxe large private cabanas on the beach for housing, guests slept in dome-shaped flimsy half-built tents that resembled FEMA shelters.
Unfortunately, the sleeping arrangements were the least of the worries for the festival goers. All the drinking water did not clear customs, so hydration was in very short supply. There was a minimal supply of toilets, which were unusable after a few hours. Once the disaster hit social media, most headlining bands dropped out or confirmed they had never finalized agreements to perform. The lack of necessities and security caused overwhelming chaos and confusion. Additionally, many guests became trapped on the island as airlines canceled several flights back to the States.
McFarland’s Incarceration
After the unbelievable ghastly calamity, co-founder Billy McFarland faced a myriad of lawsuits. The charges ranged from defrauding investors, overstating financial information, and wire fraud. On October 11, 2018, the judge sentenced him to six years in prison. He only ended up serving four years.
While incarcerated, McFarland apologized for his actions and expressed his regrets. However, he continued profiting from the debacle with his podcast Dumpster Fyre. Co-founder Ja Rule did not receive any charges but faced numerous lawsuits. The courts released McFarland from prison in 2022 and fined him $26 million. He vowed to find a way to repay the investors he owed.
Announcement of Fyre Festival 2
Fyre Festival II is finally happening.
Tell me why you should be invited.
— Billy McFarland (@pyrtbilly) April 10, 2023
Despite the disastrous outcome of the original festival in 2017, Billy McFarland has announced plans for a sequel event. In a recent tweet posted on Sunday, April 9, McFarland declared, “Fyre Festival II is finally happening. Tell me why you should be invited.” Many Twitter users expressed criticism, disbelief, and outrage at the idea. One user even responded, “Tell me why you shouldn’t be in jail.” McFarland tweeted back, “It’s in the best interest of those I owe for me to be working. People aren’t getting paid back if I sit on the couch and watch tv. and because I served my time.”
McFarland also reportedly contacted 50 Cent via Twitter the first week of April. He tweeted, “Hey @50cent wanna chat?” hoping to secure him as a headliner. The response from 50 Cent remains unknown. Details are scant past that, with a timeline for the festival and whether or not any musical guests are interested in attaching their names to it currently unclear.
Disputes With The Bahamas
It’s worth noting that this announcement comes on the heels of another McFarland apology. He apologized for a recent treasure-hunting scheme in the Bahamas named PYRT. McFarland stated, “I was completely wrong, and I wholly regret my actions.” Given the disastrous outcome of the first Fyre Festival, many are skeptical about the success of this event. Some wonder if Billy Mcfarland has learned his lesson from the first Fyre Festival thrashing. Additionally, there are concerns about whether Mcfarland will prioritize the safety and comfort of attendees over profit. Only time will tell if his promises will materialize into a successful event or if it will become another cautionary tale for event organizers.