The much-ballyhooed remake of the infamous Fyre Festival — dubbed Fyre Festival 2 — has been, uh, postponed. This unexpected bait-and-switch has thrown ticket holders and future attendees into a whirlwind of confusion. That’s right, Billy McFarland, the mastermind behind the disastrous 2017 Fyre Festival, was the one to announce the event. It was initially scheduled to be held in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, from May 30 through June 2.
After a year preparing the reboot, McFarland had sold 100 tickets — all at the significantly discounted early bird price of $499. Over the weekend, communications began to signal that the festival would not continue as intended. On Wednesday, all ticket holders were sent an email formally announcing the postponement. It gave them some comfort to know that a new date would be coming soon. This opinion is based on the narrative being presented by NBC News and the New York Times. Despite the delay, they still say the event is “still on.”
Local officials in Playa del Carmen have sounded alarms on the validity of the festival. A city council spokesperson said they currently lack any planning documentation for Fyre Festival 2. They noted, “no event with this name has reached our city,” further complicating McFarland’s plans.
The organizers of Fyre Festival 2 issued a message stating, “Following a responsible review of the situation, it confirms that there is no registration, planning or conditions indicating the realization of the event in the municipality.” It would seem an impossible invitation to accept with so many permits not available in order to continue to host an event like this.
Andy King, an investor from the first Fyre Festival, warned prospective attendees, telling them to “be careful.” His warning reflects the skepticism surrounding McFarland’s ability to deliver a successful event after the chaotic outcome of the first festival.
McFarland’s initial plan was to have just 1,800 ticket holders for Fyre Festival 2. Court documents reveal he has been granted approval for no more than 250 people to be present at the venue. Even more concerning, this huge shortfall illustrates the logistical hurdles the event’s organizers would need to overcome just to work within local regulations.
As a reminder, Billy McFarland was sentenced to six years in prison for fraud related to the first Fyre Festival. Although he was released early in 2022, he is still on probation until August of this year. His history of sexual misconduct and his current legal troubles still loom large over his new project.
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