Latest news with #FYRE2Festival
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.'
NBC News
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Fyre Festival 2's fate up in the air after event says it won't take place at Mexican resort
Organizers of a Fyre Festival sequel said Wednesday it will no longer take place in the Mexican resort town of Playa Del Carmen, after its website momentarily announced the event was postponed, sparking confusion among ticket holders. The festival's promoter, Billy McFarland, told NBC News that the date is dependent on location, so it's not immediately clear if the plans to hold a multiday festival next month would change. In a further statement to ticket holders, organizers were adamant the show would go on. "FYRE Festival 2 is still on," it says. "We are vetting new locations and will announce our host destination soon. Our priorities remain unchanged: delivering an unforgettable, safe, and transparent experience." But there was doubt earlier Wednesday when the event's website inexplicably told ticket buyers "FYRE 2 Festival is postponed and will be rescheduled for a later date in the future." The message was then updated to say tickets "currently are unavailable." The change in venue — and the fate of the entire festival — comes after Playa Del Carmen officials disputed McFarland's claim that it was hosting a second Fyre Fest. Government officials said in a statement April 2 that "after a thorough review, there is no record or planning of any such event in the municipality," casting confusion about where the event stands. McFarland, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud and other crimes tied to the first Fyre Fest fiasco in the Bahamas in 2017, had posted documents on his social media April 4 that he said proved that organizers had been working with local officials since March 5 to obtain permits for a Fyre Festival 2. The event's website had promised an "electrifying celebration of music, arts, cuisine, comedy, fashion, gaming, sports, and treasure hunting — all set in the stunning location of Playa Del Carmen, Mexico," from May 30 to June 2. But one document shared by McFarland indicated that the event at the Martina Beach Club would have a maximum of 250 people during a 12-hour period, a far cry from the 1,800 guests it had planned for. Meanwhile, organizers had not yet announced a lineup of performers or celebrities who would be involved in the event. Organizers in their statement to ticket holders on Wednesday shifted blame onto Playa Del Carmen officials. "You can't make this stuff up," the statement said. "When a government takes your money, issues permits, promotes the event, and then pretends it's never heard of you, that's not just dishonest — it's theft. Due to this, we have decided to move FYRE Festival 2 elsewhere." Playa Del Carmen officials could not immediately be reached for comment. Organizers have been under scrutiny since McFarland announced in September that he was attempting a comeback with another Fyre Fest at a "privately owned island off Mexico." McFarland told NBC News in February that he had secured festival operators, hotel partners, concierge groups and ticket companies for the event's location on Isla Mujeres, located off the coast of Cancún. While he acknowledged there's a "risk" to people who buy tickets this time around, he added, "what makes Fyre so cool is we are selling the experience of Fyre." But Isla Mujeres tourism officials disputed that they had granted any permits for such a festival. In late March, event organizers said they had found a new location — Playa Del Carmen — during a beachside news conference in Mexico in which McFarland appeared via a video link because he remains under travel restrictions. Ticket packages were being sold for $1,400 for one person, not including accommodations or travel, to $1.1 million, which organizers say covers eight people for a "Prometheus God of Fyre" pass guaranteeing complimentary accommodations and private air charter. which had partnered with ticket sales, told NBC News that it stands "firmly behind our 100% money-back guarantee. Given the recent changes to the date and venue of Fyre Festival 2, all customers who purchased tickets directly through our platform are eligible for a full refund." Festival organizers also told ticket holders on Wednesday they would issue refunds given the change in location. The original Fyre Fest in 2017 was promoted by social media influencers as a star-studded event with popular musical acts in a luxurious island setting. Attendees paid between $1,000 and $12,000 each. Instead, the festival went viral for its canceled performers, meager food options, including boxed cheese sandwiches, and FEMA disaster tent accommodations. In its wake, lawsuits were filed against McFarland, and the saga became the subject of Netflix and Hulu documentaries. In 2018, McFarland was sentenced to six years in prison after federal prosecutors said he lied to investors who lost more than $26 million. In 2021, some attendees were awarded money in a $2 million class-action settlement. The following year, McFarland was released from prison early after earning good time credit. But while still owing millions in restitution, McFarland, 33, has said the chance to hold another festival is about redemption. "We have the chance to embrace this storm and really steer our ship into all the chaos that has happened, and if it's done well, I think Fyre has a chance to be this annual festival that really takes over the festival industry," he said in September. He added that he hired a festival production company to "handle the stages and the bathrooms and all the stuff that I clearly don't know how to do."
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fyre Festival 2's fate up in the air after website says tickets unavailable
Organizers of a Fyre Festival sequel announced on its website Wednesday that the event had been postponed before updating the language to say tickets were "currently not available." The confusion comes after Mexican officials this month disputed that a multiday musical event will be held next month in the popular resort town of Playa Del Carmen. The festival's promoter, Billy McFarland, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In an earlier announcement, the site said: "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." McFarland, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud and other crimes tied to the first Fyre Fest fiasco in the Bahamas in 2017, had posted documents on his social media April 4 that he said proves that organizers had been working with local officials since March 5 to obtain permits for a Fyre Festival 2. The event's website had promised an "electrifying celebration of music, arts, cuisine, comedy, fashion, gaming, sports, and treasure hunting— all set in the stunning location of Playa Del Carmen, Mexico," from May 30 to June 2. But one document shared by McFarland indicated that the event at the Martina Beach Club would have a maximum of 250 people during a 12-hour period, a far cry from the 1,800 guests it had planned for. Meanwhile, organizers had not yet announced a lineup of performers or celebrities who would be involved in the event. Playa Del Carmen officials said in a statement April 2 that "after a thorough review, there is no record or planning of any such event in the municipality," casting confusion about where the event stands. Organizers have been in the spotlight since McFarland announced in September that he was attempting a comeback with another Fyre Fest at a "privately owned island off Mexico." McFarland told NBC News in February that he had secured festival operators, hotel partners, concierge groups and ticket companies for the event's location on Isla Mujeres, located off the coast of Cancún. While he acknowledged there's a "risk" to people who buy tickets this time around, he added, "what makes Fyre so cool is we are selling the experience of Fyre." But Isla Mujeres tourism officials disputed that they had granted any permits for such a festival. In late March, event organizers said they had found a new location — Playa Del Carmen — during a beachside news conference in Mexico in which McFarland appeared via a video link because he remains under travel restrictions. Ticket packages were being sold for $1,400 for one person, not including accommodations or travel, to $1.1 million, which organizers say covers eight people for a "Prometheus God of Fyre" pass guaranteeing complimentary accommodations and private air charter. which had partnered with ticket sales, told NBC News that it stands "firmly behind our 100% money-back guarantee. Given the recent changes to the date and venue of Fyre Festival 2, all customers who purchased tickets directly through our platform are eligible for a full refund." The original Fyre Fest in 2017 was promoted by social media influencers as a star-studded event with popular musical acts in a luxurious island setting. Attendees paid between $1,000 and $12,000 each. Instead, the festival went viral for its canceled performers, meager food options, including boxed cheese sandwiches, and FEMA disaster tent accommodations. In its wake, lawsuits were filed against McFarland, and the saga became the subject of Netflix and Hulu documentaries. In 2018, McFarland was sentenced to six years in prison after federal prosecutors said he lied to investors who lost more than $26 million. In 2021, some attendees were awarded money in a $2 million class-action settlement. The following year, McFarland was released from prison early after earning good time credit. But while still owing millions in restitution, McFarland, 33, has said the chance to hold another festival is about redemption. "We have the chance to embrace this storm and really steer our ship into all the chaos that has happened, and if it's done well, I think Fyre has a chance to be this annual festival that really takes over the festival industry," he said in September. He added that he hired a festival production company to "handle the stages and the bathrooms and all the stuff that I clearly don't know how to do." This article was originally published on
