Latest news with #FyreFestivalII
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Billy McFarland Is Looking for a Buyer Who Wants to Make Fyre Fest Their Problem Instead
Billy McFarland has realized that he might be the problem with Fyre Festival. The convicted fraudster who founded the event is looking for someone to buy it from him after having to postpone its planned comeback, Fyre Festival II, twice. '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,' McFarland shared in a statement. 'We will pick the new group based on their ability to execute the vision of Fyre in a transparent, grand, and expeditious manner. The next chapter of Fyre will be bigger, better, and built to last without me at the helm.' More from Rolling Stone Fyre Fest 2 Postponed, Obviously Billy McFarland Insists He Has Fyre Fest 2 Location Under Control, Despite City's Denial A Second Mexican City Says Fyre Fest 2 Isn't Happening There The Fyre Festival sale will include its trademarks, IP, digital assets, media reach, and cultural capital, according to the statement. McFarland has been reportedly planning the festival's return for the past two years. In 2023, 100 presale tickets priced at $499 sold out when barely anything was known about the return. The founder had been released from prison one year prior after pleading guilty to fraud charges related to the disastrous first Fyre Festival. He served just under four years. He still sees the festival as a success. '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 said. 'This brand is bigger than any one person and bigger than what I'm able to lead on my own. It's a movement. And it deserves a team with the scale, experience, and infrastructure to realize its potential.' General ticket sales for Fyre Festival II launched earlier this year, with price points ranging from $1,400 to $1.1 million. It was originally scheduled to take place May 30 to June 2 on Isla Mujeres in Mexico, then relocated to Playa del Carmen after local officials claimed to not have known anything about these plans. That also didn't work. 'I can't risk a repeat of what happened in Playa Del Carmen, where support quickly turned into public distancing once media attention intensified,' McFarland said. Last week, Fyre Festival II was postponed with no new date set. Ticket buyers have been told they will receive refunds and have the option to repurchase in the future 'if it works for your schedule.' Best of Rolling Stone The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fyre Festival II ‘doesn't exist' says Mexican tourism board
Fyre Festival II is off to a rough start after a Mexican tourism board claimed the event doesn't actually exist. A top official with Isla Mujeres says his team did not know about the upcoming festival, which is selling packages ranging from $1,400 to over a million dollars. 'We have no knowledge of this event, nor contact with any person or company about it,' Edgar Gasca, Director General of Economic Development and Tourism of Isla Mujeres, told the Guardian on Feb. 27. 'For us, this is an event that does not exist.' Did Travis Scott give this WWE superstar a black eye? Gasca also told the outlet he reached out hotels that the festival listed as a part of their accommodations, and none of them have heard about the event. The luxury hotel, Impression Isla Mujeres, which is listed told the Guardian it hasn't been approached about this but they are investigating. Promoter Billy McFarland, who pleaded guilty to fraud after the first Fyre Festival ended in disaster claimed he's in full compliance with state and local government. Elton John joins Chappell Roan onstage for 'Pink Pony Club' However, in a post to Facebook, the City Hall of the Mexican island debunked that claim. 'Due to the information circulating in the media regarding the event 'Fyre Festival II' the General Directorate of Tourism of Isla Mujeres informs that no person or company has requested permits from this office of any other Municipal Government department for said event, ' the Ayuntamiento de Isla Mujeres said. The statement explained that any additional information about tourism-related events will be announced on their official social media channels. McFarland took to Instagram on Wednesday to clear the air following what the officials have been saying. 'First, Fyre II is real,' he explained. 'Second, we have incredible partners leading the festival. They're in charge of all the logistics, productions and operations. This includes an incredible production team in Mexico who does not F around. There is no way they would ever take on a fake festival.' He also said the festival does have accommodations as it was a 'huge point of emphasis' after issues over the first festival. 'One, our accommodations include contracts, the number of villas, yachts and hotels. This also includes two hotels who are contacted by the media and in response, gave misleading statements saying they never heard of Fyre and they aren't working with us,' he continued. 'After hearing this, I asked my team to terminate those contracts and to focus on the hotels and other partners who are eager to work with and support Fyre.' He also assured that the festival has various 'talent, artists, athletes and performers are on board and scheduled for Fyre.' McFarland also cleared the air that since his release, restitution has been paid and he's made it his mission to 'do more than legally required.''My partners and I have remained in communication with local and state governments to ensure full compliance and a successful event that benefits the local economy, shares the beauty of the Mexican Caribbean with the world and helps make right for all of the wrongs… Fyre II is moving forward, and we are moving forward with full integrity. From now on, updates will come directly from me,' he said. 'I look forward to continuing to work with my great partners to bring the vision of Fyre to life and to help make right for all the wrongs.' In 2018, McFarland was sentenced to six years in federal prison for fraud after pleading guilty to two counts of wire fraud for his role in defrauding Fyre Festival investors and ticket vendors of about $26 million. He was released early in May of 2022, according to Rolling Stone. He was held under house arrest until September 2022. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
