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McFarland and the rapper Ja Rule came up with the idea for the 2017 edition of Fyre. The event was marketed as the “cultural experience of the decade” by the two.
The second iteration of the Fyre Festival is announced. (Photo Credit: X)
Convicted fraudster Billy McFarland, infamous for orchestrating the disastrous first Fyre Festival, is making a controversial comeback nearly eight years after deceiving thousands with promises of the “greatest party the world had ever seen.” Now, he’s back with Fyre Festival 2, set to take place on Mexico’s Isla Mujeres from May 20 to June 2 this year.
Announcing the festival on Instagram, McFarland described it as a “three-day escape to the Mexican Caribbean” where attendees can explore by day and party by night with top-tier talent. The post, boldly titled “Fyre Festival 2 is real,” has reignited scepticism and curiosity in equal measure.
A dedicated festival website has been launched, offering real tickets and hospitality packages—but the pricing is jaw-dropping. Tickets range from Rs 1.2 lakh ($1,400) to an eye-watering Rs 9.5 crore ($1.1 million) for the ultimate VIP experience. Despite the high price tag, no artists have been confirmed yet.
Addressing the inevitable doubts, McFarland acknowledged the criticism, stating, “I’m sure many people think I’m crazy for doing this again. But I feel I’d be crazy not to. After years of reflection, the new team and I have amazing plans for Fyre 2.”
He further added, “The adventure seekers who trust the vision and take the leap will help make history.”
Take a look at the invite here:
Shared on February 24, the announcement racked up a lot of negative responses from social media users.
A user said, “I have a fire update … I hope someone beats you blind.”
Another jokingly commented, “Let’s see how many trump supporters will be attending the event in THE GULF OF MEXICO!”
“Got to be an absolute idiot to give any money to this dude. Scammed millions. Then got out on bail and scammed again. Lmaoooo. Now talking about the same type of stuff. Lmaoooo. Whoever gives him money at this point deserves whatever they get,” an angry user wrote.
“Can’t believe this is happening! Guess prison wasn’t that bad?” another user on Instagram remarked.
What Happened In The First Fyre Festival?
McFarland and rapper Ja Rule co-created the 2017 Fyre festival. The duo advertised the event as the “cultural experience of the decade,” but when attendees arrived on the Bahamian island of Exuma, they discovered mediocre cheese sandwiches, disaster relief-style tents, and no music — despite paying hundreds of dollars to participate.
Interestingly, the festival’s promotional campaign showed models Emily Ratajkowski and Bella Hadid having a good time on yachts. Although McFarland assured the travellers that they would have the opportunity to party with supermodels, the encounter was terrifying.
After many festival attendees shared images of the chaotic scenes on social media, the expensive rates that many had paid were ridiculed online.
In addition to jail time, McFarland was sentenced to forfeit $26 million when he pleaded wire fraud in 2018. He was placed under house arrest until September 2022 after completing less than four years of his six-year sentence and was released to a halfway home.
The 2019 Netflix documentary “Fyre Festival: The Greatest Party That Never Happened” brought him even more attention for the fraud he was able to perpetrate.
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