Latest news with #FyreFestival2.0
Daily Mail
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Fyre Festival 2 is cancelled as fraudster founder Billy McFarland puts failed brand up for sale
The infamous Fyre Festival brand is up for sale and the comeback event officially canceled days after organizers said it had been indefinitely postponed. Disgraced businessman Billy McFarland and rapper Ja Rule hyped up the 2017 festival as a 'luxury' event packed with A-list stars, but it instead descended into a chaotic failure. McFarland was sentenced to six years in prison in 2018 for defrauding investors out of $26 million along with over $100,000 in additional fraudulent ticket-selling schemes. So the public was shocked when McFarland revealed Fyre Festival 2.0 was coming in 2025 - only for him to later postpone the event with no new date. Now, he's revealed the brand 'is bigger than any one person and bigger than what I'm able to lead on my own' and is attempting to offload it to a new buyer. 'Over the past two years, we've poured everything into bringing FYRE back with honesty, transparency, relentless effort, and creativity. We've taken the long road to rebuilding trust. We rebuilt momentum. And we proved one thing without a doubt: FYRE is one of the most powerful attention engines in the world,' he said. 'It's a movement. And it deserves a team with the scale, experience, and infrastructure to realize its potential.' McFarland said he has accepted that the best way 'to accomplish our goals is to sell the FYRE Festival brand, including its trademarks, IP, digital assets, media reach, and cultural capital - to an operator that can fully realize its vision. 'When my team and I launched FYRE Festival 2, it was about two things: finishing what I started and making things right.,' he said. 'Since 2017, FYRE has dominated headlines, documentaries, and conversations as one of the world's most talked-about music festivals. We knew that FYRE was big, but we didn't realize just how massive the wave would become. That wave has brought us here: to a point where we know it's time to call for assistance.' McFarland argued there is a 'clear path for operators and entrepreneurs with strong domain expertise to build FYRE into a global force in entertainment, media, fashion, CPG, and more. 'Giving control of the brand to a new group is the most responsible way to follow through on what we set out to do: build a global entertainment brand, host a safe and legendary event, and continue to pay restitution to those who are owed from the first festival.' He said: 'In addition, following the challenges we faced in Mexico, we were approached by several Caribbean destinations eager to host FYRE Festival 2. We dove into the process—meeting with national officials, conducting site visits—and we're confident we've found the ideal location for the festival. 'While I'm incredibly excited, I can't risk a repeat of what happened in Playa Del Carmen, where support quickly turned into public distancing once media attention intensified. 'For FYRE Festival 2 to succeed, it's clear that I need to step back and allow a new team to move forward independently, bringing the vision to life on this incredible island. 'A new chapter begins. After two years of rebuilding FYRE with honesty, creativity, and relentless effort, it's time to pass the torch. We're officially putting the FYRE brand up for sale. 'To the right buyer: the platform is yours. Execute the vision. Make history.'
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fyre Festival 2.0 Not Happening in Mexico, Organizers Claim Government Screwed Them
Fyre Festival 2.0 will not go down in Playa del Carmen, Mexico next month, and the organizers say it's because they got royally screwed by the Mexican government. TMZ has obtained text messages sent by a Fyre Fest event producer saying they've been backstabbed by Mexican officials. Not mincing words, the event producer says, "They f***ed us." According to the event producer, the government is acting like they had no idea the festival was going down in May ... "They [the government] posted on X, Instagram etc giving their blessing and support and then yesterday they say we've never heard of them its hilarious." The event producer isn't holding out hope, saying the government is "lying completely," adding, "And at this point we're not doing any event there and we plan on making it very public and showing all of the evidence." The producer doubled down in the texts, saying, "As of now we wont be hosting a festival in playa." The organizer is not throwing in the towel, saying, "We will move it somewhere else." He was not more specific and the clock is ticking fast. TMZ obtained these text messages just a day after Billy McFarland claimed he and his team are working with Playa Del Carmen to make sure the festival moves forward, posting a timeline of alleged interactions with the government. His documentation allegedly shows paperwork filed with the city, email communication with officials, and even receipts of costly payments submitted to secure various permits. Billy posted the documentation after the government of Playa del Carmen issued a statement saying "no such event with that name will take place in our city." BTW, this is not the first time Mexican officials have denied Fyre Fest is going down there. It was originally supposed to take place at Isla Mujeres ... but the island's city hall announced in February no permits had been filed for such an event. Billy has been adamant his beloved festival is going forward, telling TMZ in February it'll be run by "real music professionals" and "real artists." Last month, Antonio Brown told us he's part of the lineup -- which has yet to be announced. There's a lot at stake for Fyre Festival 2. Remember ... the world watched the original festival crash and burn in 2017, and Billy was convicted of fraud and sentenced to 6 years in prison. He was released in 2022, and has been on the road to redemption ever since. We contacted Billy and the event producer, but they both had no comment.
Fox News
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Fyre Festival 2.0 in rough water
Architects for Fyre Festival 2.0 are told the event will not take place in Playa del Carmen as originally planned, the beef between Bhad Babie and Alabama Barker continues and Sam Asghari was spotted in Miami Learn more about your ad choices. Visit Jeffrey Petz
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Convicted Fyre Fest fraudster Billy McFarland's return to Mexico 'sounds like a ticking time bomb': experts
Second time's the charm. Or so says Billy McFarland, creator of the disastrous 2017 Fyre Festival, which scammed people out of thousands of dollars and landed McFarland six years of prison time for his financial crimes, though he only ended up serving about four years from 2018 to 2022. "I'm sure many people think I'm crazy for doing this again," McFarland said Monday in a statement. "But I'd feel crazy not to do it again. After years of reflection and thoughtful planning, the new team and I have amazing plans for FYRE 2." McFarland added that the "adventure seekers out there who trust the vision and take the leap will help make history." Convicted Fyre Festival Fraudster Returns, Charging $1M Tickets To Music Event Tickets for Fyre Fest 2 range from $1,400 to more than $1 million. Read On The Fox News App The $1 million ticket includes private air travel from Miami to Cancun and private yacht travel from Cancun to Isla Mujeres. Accommodations for this ticket include the choice of either a four-stateroom yacht or four-bedroom villa with access to the festival grounds for three nights. It also grants festival access over four days to eight people. Fyre Festival Founder Billy Mcfarland Breaks Silence In First Tv Interview Fyre Fest has not officially named any music acts, but it does promise "an electrifying celebration of music, arts, cuisine, comedy, fashion, gaming, sports, and treasure hunting — all set in the stunning location of Isla Mujeres, Mexico." The original Fyre Fest promised big-name music acts from Blink 182, Migos and other artists; celebrity model attendees including the Hadid sisters and Emily Ratajkowski; luxury accommodations; and fine food, with tickets ranging from $1,200 to over $100,000. The festival reached a settlement with 277 ticket holders in 2021, when it was ordered to pay each recipient an award of $7,220. Fyre Festival Founder Returns From Prison With New Island Event Idea, Old Allies Warn: 'Proceed With Caution' Now, McFarland wants a do-over, and he's promising a successful three-day event in Isla Mujeres, Mexico, between May 30 and June 2. Thomas Mustac, a publicist with Otter PR, told Fox News Digital that "Fyre Festival 2.0 sounds like a ticking time bomb." Fyre Festival Promoter Sentenced To Six Years In Prison "Whenever you, as an individual or organization, burn your stakeholders so badly, it's hard to regain trust," Mustac said. "Something as heavily publicized will have a tough sell to restore trust, but you will always have a crowd of supporters who like to live with a risk. That way, they are in an in-crowd IF things happen as planned and are on the frontlines of a successful major event as Fyre Festival claimed to be." Mustac added that McFarland's track record may make it difficult for the festival to sign major performers or organizations to help with the event. Fyre Festival Founder Billy Macfarland Working On Prison Memoir "Social media seems to be loving the Fyre Festival news, which is probably the attention that Billy wants, but this is not a way to repair an image or trust when you're looking to make a profit on folks while STILL being in debt to the original festival goers and leaving them with nothing years later still," Mustac said. Media Culture CEO Christena Garduno had a slightly different opinion, telling Fox News Digital that "Fyre Festival 2 can certainly capitalize on its notorious past by embracing the 'bad press is good press' mantra, but it requires a strategic shift." WATCH: MODELS, INFLUENCERS FACE LEGAL TROUBLE FOR PROMOTING FYRE FESTIVAL: "The key to overcoming their reputation will be complete transparency and a commitment to delivering an experience that exceeds expectations," Garduno explained. "This time, they should lean into their redemption story — showing growth, accountability and a genuine effort to do things right. If they can balance the allure of exclusivity with strong brand messaging and ensure real customer value, the negative press could actually fuel curiosity and drive ticket sales." The 2017 Fyre Fest scam went viral on social media after Hulu and Netflix published documentaries about the failed beach bash, making the #fyrefraud hashtag go viral at the time. A photo of a meal at the fest — specifically, a shabby sandwich on white bread thrown together in a Styrofoam box — also went viral, showcasing one small part of the larger scam that was the original Fyre Fest eight years article source: Convicted Fyre Fest fraudster Billy McFarland's return to Mexico 'sounds like a ticking time bomb': experts
Fox News
01-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Convicted Fyre Fest fraudster Billy McFarland's return to Mexico 'sounds like a ticking time bomb': experts
Second time's the charm. Or so says Billy McFarland, creator of the disastrous 2017 Fyre Festival, which scammed people out of thousands of dollars and landed McFarland six years of prison time for his financial crimes, though he only ended up serving about four years from 2018 to 2022. "I'm sure many people think I'm crazy for doing this again," McFarland said Monday in a statement. "But I'd feel crazy not to do it again. After years of reflection and thoughtful planning, the new team and I have amazing plans for FYRE 2." McFarland added that the "adventure seekers out there who trust the vision and take the leap will help make history." Tickets for Fyre Fest 2 range from $1,400 to more than $1 million. The $1 million ticket includes private air travel from Miami to Cancun and private yacht travel from Cancun to Isla Mujeres. Accommodations for this ticket include the choice of either a four-stateroom yacht or four-bedroom villa with access to the festival grounds for three nights. It also grants festival access over four days to eight people. Fyre Fest has not officially named any music acts, but it does promise "an electrifying celebration of music, arts, cuisine, comedy, fashion, gaming, sports, and treasure hunting — all set in the stunning location of Isla Mujeres, Mexico." The original Fyre Fest promised big-name music acts from Blink 182, Migos and other artists; celebrity model attendees including the Hadid sisters and Emily Ratajkowski; luxury accommodations; and fine food, with tickets ranging from $1,200 to over $100,000. The festival reached a settlement with 277 ticket holders in 2021, when it was ordered to pay each recipient an award of $7,220. Now, McFarland wants a do-over, and he's promising a successful three-day event in Isla Mujeres, Mexico, between May 30 and June 2. "Thank you to my partners for this second chance." Thomas Mustac, a publicist with Otter PR, told Fox News Digital that "Fyre Festival 2.0 sounds like a ticking time bomb." "Whenever you, as an individual or organization, burn your stakeholders so badly, it's hard to regain trust," Mustac said. "Something as heavily publicized will have a tough sell to restore trust, but you will always have a crowd of supporters who like to live with a risk. That way, they are in an in-crowd IF things happen as planned and are on the frontlines of a successful major event as Fyre Festival claimed to be." Mustac added that McFarland's track record may make it difficult for the festival to sign major performers or organizations to help with the event. "Social media seems to be loving the Fyre Festival news, which is probably the attention that Billy wants, but this is not a way to repair an image or trust when you're looking to make a profit on folks while STILL being in debt to the original festival goers and leaving them with nothing years later still," Mustac said. Media Culture CEO Christena Garduno had a slightly different opinion, telling Fox News Digital that "Fyre Festival 2 can certainly capitalize on its notorious past by embracing the 'bad press is good press' mantra, but it requires a strategic shift." WATCH: MODELS, INFLUENCERS FACE LEGAL TROUBLE FOR PROMOTING FYRE FESTIVAL: "The key to overcoming their reputation will be complete transparency and a commitment to delivering an experience that exceeds expectations," Garduno explained. "This time, they should lean into their redemption story — showing growth, accountability and a genuine effort to do things right. If they can balance the allure of exclusivity with strong brand messaging and ensure real customer value, the negative press could actually fuel curiosity and drive ticket sales." The 2017 Fyre Fest scam went viral on social media after Hulu and Netflix published documentaries about the failed beach bash, making the #fyrefraud hashtag go viral at the time. A photo of a meal at the fest — specifically, a shabby sandwich on white bread thrown together in a Styrofoam box — also went viral, showcasing one small part of the larger scam that was the original Fyre Fest eight years ago.
