FESTIVAL fraudster Billy McFarland is on the rebound from both one of the worst festivals ever and a six-year prison sentence for wire-fraud.
And what better way than to have another crack at the festival that defrauded investors of £21 million, had almost no food, soaking wet beds, collapsing tents and no bands.
You’re probably familiar with the notorious Fyre Festival, a luxury music event held on ‘Pablo Escobar’s private island’ in the Bahamas that was designed to entice influencers in 2017 but ended in utter chaos.
The festival, located in a secluded parking lot, was a disaster with performers backing out, the prepaid RFID payment system failing due to poor wifi, and the so-called luxury accommodations downgraded to disaster relief tents.
The anticipated gourmet food turned out to be nothing more than a cheese sandwich in a styrofoam container.
The Fyre Festival was a monumental disaster, an event that should never be replicated.
Yet McFarland, who faced £80m in lawsuits from different claimants, seems to think otherwise. Despite serving time in jail for his role in the fiasco, he has just announced plans for the sequel.
In a recent social media post, he claimed that he’s already sold the first batch of tickets for a new Fyre Festival set to take place next year.
He assures everyone that it’s a legitimate venture this time, with ticket sales held in escrow until the festival is officially announced.
He also promises to partner with ‘the best logistical and infrastructure partners’ to prevent a repeat of the previous catastrophe.
The announcement raises so many questions, the most pressing one being, ‘Is this actually happening?’
It’s hard to trust someone who previously promised an unforgettable experience only to deliver a disaster for which he was jailed. Yet, here he is, offering the same thing again. It would be a miracle if Fyre Festival 2 even matches the first instalment’s level of preparation, let alone exceeds it.
Is it possible, though, that McFarland genuinely wants to rectify his past missteps with another Fyre Festival?
Could his objective be to finally fulfil his 2017 promise of an extravagant weekend experience for influencers at a game-changing music festival?
If he can pull it off, he might find redemption and even be lauded as a hero. But there’s a significant catch – who would willingly pay to participate in a Fyre Festival, given the brand’s reputation for disaster?
McFarland might be targeting a different demographic this time – those who revel in ironic disasters and who found the original Fyre Festival ordeal amusing.
If Fyre Festival 2 is a reiteration of the original’s chaos, McFarland’s credibility may be permanently damaged. But if the festival turns out to be a success, it wouldn’t be the Fyre Festival, would it? After all, who would be interested in a documentary about a well-organised music festival?
If you truly are crazy enough you can find out more about Fyre Festival 2 here.
