Latest news with #FYRE2
Boston Globe
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Fyre Festival 2 issues refund for Mexico event, stops ticket sales
The Washington Post could not confirm those statements, but a reporter who planned to attend the festival received an email receipt for a refund worth $1,604.17 from the ticketing partner for the event. On Wednesday evening, the page for the event no longer listed any ticket options. An organizer for Fyre 2 did not immediately respond to emails from The Post. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up A postponement or cancellation would be another setback for Fyre founder Billy McFarland, who was sentenced to six years in prison for defrauding investors of $26 million over the first version of the festival in 2017, which left concertgoers stuck with little food and flimsy conditions amid promises of a premier concert event. The original Fyre Festival became the subject of two documentaries and widespread internet memes. Advertisement McFarland announced a sequel to the Fyre Festival in February - nearly three years after he was released from prison - immediately raising eyebrows and suspicions. The original Fyre Festival, with sparse amenities for attendees who had paid for a luxury event, was held in the Bahamas in 2017. 'I'm sure many people think I'm crazy for doing this again,' McFarland said in a release posted to Instagram when the sequel event was announced. 'But I feel I'd be crazy not to do it again. After years of reflection and now thoughtful planning, the new team and I have amazing plans for FYRE 2. The adventure seekers who trust the vision and take the leap will help make history.' Tickets went on sale in February , with packages ranging from $1,400 to $1.1 million, but the new festival quickly ran into problems. Fyre Festival 2 was initially set for Isla Mujeres, another Mexican tourist hot spot near Cancún. But a tourism official for the island said the event didn't exist, and a Facebook page for the location said no permits for such a festival were approved, either. Organizers said in March they had moved the location to Playa del Carmen, and a luxury hotel there confirmed a partnership with Fyre to The Post. However, no lineup of performers has been announced, raising speculation about whether the event was real. Then, in April, officials with Playa del Carmen disputed claims of the festival being held there. But McFarland said that he had conversations with the local government about the event, sharing a timeline of events on the Fyre Festival's Instagram page. 'All media reports suggesting our team has not been working with the government of PDC are simply inaccurate and based on misinformation,' the page read. Advertisement McFarland has yet to comment on the postponed festival or say if it will be rescheduled. As of Thursday morning, the festival's website still showed the event as set for May 30 in Playa del Carmen, but a link to buy tickets wasn't working. A merchandise page was still selling $70 T-shirts that say 'Fyre Festival 2 is real.'
The Independent
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Fyre Festival 2 postponed just weeks ahead of scheduled kick-off date
Fyre Festival 2 has been postponed indefinitely by its organiser, convicted fraudster Billy McFarland, just over a month ahead of its scheduled kick-off date. McFarland has been attempting to orchestrate a more successful version of the initial Fyre Festival, the notorious event that went viral in 2017 after guests who had paid thousands of dollars for tickets ended up stranded in the Bahamas with limited food and shelter, and none of the promised headliners. However, the new festival, which was supposed to take place on the Isla Mujeres, Mexico, between 30 May to 2 June, has now been indefinitely postponed, with ticket-holders informed that they had been issued refunds. 'The event has been postponed and a new date will be announced,' a message sent to a ticket-holder and seen by ABC News said. 'We have issued you a refund. Once the new date is announced, at that time, you can repurchase if it works for your schedule.' Tickets for Fyre Festival 2, which was marketed under the slogan 'FYRE Festival 2 is real', went on sale in February at a starting fee of $1,400 and up to $25,000, while premium packages were also being sold for as much as $1.1m. At the time, McFarland said a statement, 'I'm sure many people think I'm crazy for doing this again. But I feel I'd be crazy not to do it again.' 'After years of reflection and now thoughtful planning, the new team and I have amazing plans for FYRE 2,' he added. As with the doomed original event, McFarland's festival promised an 'electrifying celebration of music, arts, cuisine, comedy, fashion, gaming, sports, and treasure hunting — all set in the stunning location of Isla Mujeres, Mexico'. 'Experience unforgettable performances, immersive experiences, and an atmosphere that redefines creativity and culture,' the festival's website said. Leading up to the festival, Mexico officials with the Quintana Roo Tourism Department and the Playa Del Carmen government said 'no event of that name' was to be held there. Bernardo Cueto, tourism secretary of the State of Quintana Roo, where Isla Mujeres is located, told ABC News that his agency was responsible for handing out permissions for events of this kind. However, Fyre Fest 2 was not something he was informed about, he said, nor was an event by that name happening in Playa del Carmen or Isla Mujeres. On 4 April, McFarland shared a timeline of apparent conversations with the government of Playa Del Carmen to the festival's Instagram account, including screenshots of purported conversations and permits. 'All media reports suggesting our team has not been working with the government of PDC are simply inaccurate and based on misinformation,' he said. 'FYRE has operated as a good partner with PDC government and has followed the proper processes and procedures to lawfully host an event.' Eagle-eyed followers then pointed out that the terms of the permits McFarland had posted limited the event to 250 attendees max, far below his proposed 1,800 guests, and also limited the event of 12 hours of music across the weekend with a noise limit of 100 decibels. The festival had yet to announce a lineup but McFarland told the Today programme: 'We're going to have artists across electronic, hip hop, pop and rock. However, it's not just music. We might have a professional skateboarder do a demonstration. We might have an MMA champion teach you techniques in the morning.' Electronic producer and DJ deadmau5 has responded to the news of the event's postponement, sharing a screenshot of the announcement on his Instagram account along with the caption: 'Well that sucks'. McFarland served four years of a six-year sentence in prison after being convicted of wire fraud in connection with the failed 2017 festival.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fyre Festival 2 Postponed, No New Date or Location Announced
Fyre Festival 2 has been postponed, according to the organizers, per ABC News and NBC News. Fyre Festival 2 tickets went on sale in February, with general tickets starting at $1,400. The festival was supposed to take place in Isla Mujeres, Mexico, from Friday, May 30, to Monday, June 2. But on Wednesday, April 16, ticket holders received a message that the event was postponed. "The event has been postponed and a new date will be announced. We have issued you a refund. Once the new date is announced, at that time, you can repurchase if it works for your schedule,' the message said, per ABC News. "FYRE Festival 2 is still on," the message said, per NBC News. "We are vetting new locations and will announce our host destination soon. Our priorities remain unchanged: delivering an unforgettable, safe, and transparent experience." Billy McFarland, the organizer of the initial Fyre Festival in 2017 and the 2025 festival, announced in August 2023 that the festival would be returning. "I'm sure many people think I'm crazy for doing this again. But I feel I'd be crazy not to do it again,' McFarland, 33, previously said, per NBC News. "After years of reflection and now thoughtful planning, the new team and I have amazing plans for FYRE 2.' Related: Fyre Festival 2 Organizer Billy McFarland Shares Planning Timeline amid Reports That the Event Is Not Happening The festival was originally slated to take place in Isla Mujeres, but in early March, the government of Isla Mujeres denied that the event was taking place there. Weeks later, McFarland said at a late March press conference that the new event would occur in Playa del Carmen. On Thursday, April 3, the city denied that the music festival is happening there, according to a press release translated by Rolling Stone. However, in a Friday, April 4 Instagram statement, McFarland said the event organizers have been working with the city of Playa del Carmen since March to secure permits for the music festival. He also included various photos of alleged documents — such as tourism permits, environmental permits and receipts of payments made to the Playa del Carmen government — all filed or submitted over the past month. The Fyre Festival Instagram account did not mention the postponement on Wednesday, but it did promote a sweatshirt in its Stories with the logo "Fyre 2 is Real." Fyre Festival organizers did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The original Fyre Festival, which compared itself to Coachella, took place in April 2017. Attendees paid upwards of $1,500 for tickets for a festival in the Bahamas with performances from Blink-182 and Migos promised, along with big-name models and influencers. Upon arrival, guests learned that the promised luxury accommodations were no more than makeshift tents and folding chairs. It later inspired two documentaries, Netflix's FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened and Hulu's Fyre Fraud. McFarland was later found guilty of two counts of wire fraud in relation to the failed festival and served time in prison from 2018 until 2022. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fyre Festival 2 reportedly postponed: From multiple venue changes to a nonexistent music lineup, here's how we got here.
Fyre Festival 2 has been postponed and ticket holders are being offered refunds, multiple news outlets reported on Wednesday. The festival, which was scheduled to take place in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico from May 30 to June 2, is Billy McFarland's second attempt at hosting a multi-day music festival after the disastrous Fyre Festival he co-planned with rapper Ja Rule in 2017, which resulted in him pleading guilty to wire fraud and being sentenced to six years in federal prison. NBC News initially reported Wednesday that there was a notice on the event's ticket site saying, 'FYRE 2 Festival is postponed and will be rescheduled for a later date in the future. If you have purchased tickets already, you will receive an email once the new date is confirmed.' But the notice was subsequently removed from the site. TMZ, which interviewed McFarland about Fyre Festival 2 in February, published an email that organizers reportedly sent out to ticket buyers, which says, 'FYRE Festival 2 will no longer take place in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.' 'We are vetting new locations and will announce our host destination soon,' the announcement reads. 'Our priorities remain unchanged: delivery an unforgettable, safe and transparent experience.' McFarland reportedly confirmed the event's postponement to TMZ, saying that 'Permits cost hundreds of thousands of pesos. Many times that [is] spent on venues, hotels, etc. that [Playa del Carmen] directed us to book.' He told the outlet the organizers were working to secure a new location and date soon. As of reporting, there is only a notice on the festival's ticket website saying tickets are 'currently not available' and lists all ticket options as 'sold out.' McFarland's Fyre Festival 2 was scheduled to take place in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico from May 30 to June 2, with tickets prices starting at $1,400. "I'm sure many people think I'm crazy for doing this again. But I feel I'd be crazy not to do it again,' McFarland, 33, said in February. "After years of reflection and now thoughtful planning, the new team and I have amazing plans for FYRE 2.' Yahoo News reached out to the Fyre Festival organizers and has not heard back as of reporting. The first Fyre Festival was planned for two weekends in the Bahamas in late April and early May 2017. However, the first weekend was cut short after attendees arrived, due to major problems with food, logistics, security, accommodation and talent. In May 2017, McFarland and Ja Rule were sued for $100 million in a class-action lawsuit on behalf of the attendees. The following month, McFarland was arrested and charged with wire fraud in Manhattan federal court for his involvement in organizing the Fyre Festival. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six years in federal prison in October 2018. McFarland was relocated to a halfway house in March 2022 after serving less than four years and was no longer under house arrest as of September 2022. Two years later, he confirmed his plans to try and host another festival. Here's what's happened since then. September 2024: McFarland confirms on the Today Show that Fyre Festival 2 will take place from April 25 to April 28, 2025. 'We have a private island off the coast of Mexico in the Caribbean, and we have an incredible production company who's handling everything from soup to nuts,' he said. He did not confirm the name of the island. February 24, 2025: Fyre Festival 2 tickets go on sale, ranging from $1400 to $1.1 million. The site advertises that the second Fyre Festival will take place on Isla Mujeres, a tropical island off of Cancún, Mexico. No artists are announced as taking part in the event. 'Fyre 2 is real,' McFarland says during another appearance on the Today Show. 'My dream is finally becoming a reality.' Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Fyre Festival 2 tickets go on sale as Billy McFarland attempts to come back from 2017 disaster: 'My dream is finally becoming a reality' February 27: Edgar Gasca, a representative from the tourism directorate of Isla Mujeres, tells the Guardian when asked about Fyre Festival 2, 'For us, this is an event that does not exist.' March 21: McFarland announces on Instagram that the festival will now take place 'in the heart of the Riviera Maya.' March 27: Fyre Festival hosts a press conference at Martina Beach Club in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. During the press conference, McFarland announces the event will be officially held in Playa del Carmen from May 30 to June 2. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Fyre Festival 2 is still on, Billy McFarland says. How he plans to lock down lodging and musical artists. March 30: McFarland posts a video on Instagram labeled an 'Important FYRE Festival Update.' In it, he claims there will be 1,800 attendees and that a lineup will soon be released. 'We'll have DJs, rappers, reggae artists, pop stars, but also athletes, divers, models, pilots and creators who will lead the experiences for our guests,' McFarland says. 'We'll have dozens of artists in a private party-like setting.' April 2: Playa del Carmen City Hall posts on X: 'There will be no event called 'Fyre 2' in Playa del Carmen.' April 4: McFarland writes on X that he has been 'working directly with the government of Playa del Carmen (PDC) and their officials since March 5, 2025 to ensure a safe and successful event.' April 16: NBC News reports that an alert was temporarily posted on the Fyre Festival 2 ticket site, saying the event had been postponed and attendees would be getting emails confirming the new date. ABC News reports the festival is postponed, citing an unnamed ticket holder who says they received an email saying, "The event has been postponed and a new date will be announced. We have issued you a refund. Once the new date is announced, at that time, you can repurchase if it works for your schedule." McFarland reportedly confirmed the postponement to TMZ, blaming the cost of permits and saying that he and the organizers were already looking for new locations and dates for ticket buyers. TMZ published the alleged email organizers sent out to ticket buyers, which says, 'FYRE Festival 2 will no longer take place in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.'
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fyre Festival 2 reportedly postponed: From multiple venue changes to a nonexistent music lineup, here's how we got here.
Fyre Festival 2 has been postponed and ticket holders are being offered refunds, multiple news outlets reported on Wednesday. The festival, which was scheduled to take place in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico from May 30 to June 2, is Billy McFarland's second attempt at hosting a multi-day music festival after the disastrous Fyre Festival he co-planned with rapper Ja Rule in 2017, which resulted in him pleading guilty to wire fraud and being sentenced to six years in federal prison. NBC News initially reported Wednesday that there was a notice on the event's ticket site saying, 'FYRE 2 Festival is postponed and will be rescheduled for a later date in the future. If you have purchased tickets already, you will receive an email once the new date is confirmed.' But the notice was subsequently removed from the site. TMZ, which interviewed McFarland about Fyre Festival 2 in February, published an email that organizers reportedly sent out to ticket buyers, which says, 'FYRE Festival 2 will no longer take place in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.' 'We are vetting new locations and will announce our host destination soon,' the announcement reads. 'Our priorities remain unchanged: delivery an unforgettable, safe and transparent experience.' McFarland reportedly confirmed the event's postponement to TMZ, saying that 'Permits cost hundreds of thousands of pesos. Many times that [is] spent on venues, hotels, etc. that [Playa del Carmen] directed us to book.' He told the outlet the organizers were working to secure a new location and date soon. As of reporting, there is only a notice on the festival's ticket website saying tickets are 'currently not available' and lists all ticket options as 'sold out.' McFarland's Fyre Festival 2 was scheduled to take place in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico from May 30 to June 2, with tickets prices starting at $1,400. "I'm sure many people think I'm crazy for doing this again. But I feel I'd be crazy not to do it again,' McFarland, 33, said in February. "After years of reflection and now thoughtful planning, the new team and I have amazing plans for FYRE 2.' Yahoo News reached out to the Fyre Festival organizers and has not heard back as of reporting. The first Fyre Festival was planned for two weekends in the Bahamas in late April and early May 2017. However, the first weekend was cut short after attendees arrived, due to major problems with food, logistics, security, accommodation and talent. In May 2017, McFarland and Ja Rule were sued for $100 million in a class-action lawsuit on behalf of the attendees. The following month, McFarland was arrested and charged with wire fraud in Manhattan federal court for his involvement in organizing the Fyre Festival. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six years in federal prison in October 2018. McFarland was relocated to a halfway house in March 2022 after serving less than four years and was no longer under house arrest as of September 2022. Two years later, he confirmed his plans to try and host another festival. Here's what's happened since then. September 2024: McFarland confirms on the Today Show that Fyre Festival 2 will take place from April 25 to April 28, 2025. 'We have a private island off the coast of Mexico in the Caribbean, and we have an incredible production company who's handling everything from soup to nuts,' he said. He did not confirm the name of the island. February 24, 2025: Fyre Festival 2 tickets go on sale, ranging from $1400 to $1.1 million. The site advertises that the second Fyre Festival will take place on Isla Mujeres, a tropical island off of Cancún, Mexico. No artists are announced as taking part in the event. 'Fyre 2 is real,' McFarland says during another appearance on the Today Show. 'My dream is finally becoming a reality.' Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Fyre Festival 2 tickets go on sale as Billy McFarland attempts to come back from 2017 disaster: 'My dream is finally becoming a reality' February 27: Edgar Gasca, a representative from the tourism directorate of Isla Mujeres, tells the Guardian when asked about Fyre Festival 2, 'For us, this is an event that does not exist.' March 21: McFarland announces on Instagram that the festival will now take place 'in the heart of the Riviera Maya.' March 27: Fyre Festival hosts a press conference at Martina Beach Club in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. During the press conference, McFarland announces the event will be officially held in Playa del Carmen from May 30 to June 2. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Fyre Festival 2 is still on, Billy McFarland says. How he plans to lock down lodging and musical artists. March 30: McFarland posts a video on Instagram labeled an 'Important FYRE Festival Update.' In it, he claims there will be 1,800 attendees and that a lineup will soon be released. 'We'll have DJs, rappers, reggae artists, pop stars, but also athletes, divers, models, pilots and creators who will lead the experiences for our guests,' McFarland says. 'We'll have dozens of artists in a private party-like setting.' April 2: Playa del Carmen City Hall posts on X: 'There will be no event called 'Fyre 2' in Playa del Carmen.' April 4: McFarland writes on X that he has been 'working directly with the government of Playa del Carmen (PDC) and their officials since March 5, 2025 to ensure a safe and successful event.' April 16: NBC News reports that an alert was temporarily posted on the Fyre Festival 2 ticket site, saying the event had been postponed and attendees would be getting emails confirming the new date. ABC News reports the festival is postponed, citing an unnamed ticket holder who says they received an email saying, "The event has been postponed and a new date will be announced. We have issued you a refund. Once the new date is announced, at that time, you can repurchase if it works for your schedule." McFarland reportedly confirmed the postponement to TMZ, blaming the cost of permits and saying that he and the organizers were already looking for new locations and dates for ticket buyers. TMZ published the alleged email organizers sent out to ticket buyers, which says, 'FYRE Festival 2 will no longer take place in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.'
