Buyer Beware: Fyre Fest Fraud Announces Date For New Concert In 2025
Written by djfrosty on September 11, 2024
Source: Theo Wargo / Getty
The founder of the ill-fated Fyre Fest is out of jail and ready to throw a new version of the event with an expected launch date.
For those who remember the disaster that was Fyre Fest, be prepared —a new version is on the way. According to reports, Fyre Festival founder Billy McFarland is gearing up for Fyre Festival II with the announcement that it will take place on April 25-28, 2025. “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 an interview about the proposed event.
For the curious, tickets to Fyre Fest II would cost $1,400 to start for a pass to the three-day event. Ticket prices range up to $1.1 million for VIP packages which include a chance to hang out with McFarland exclusively in addition to indulging in other activities such as spending time on luxury yachts, scuba diving, and island hopping. The fest would take place on a privately owned island off of the coast of Mexico. McFarland didn’t disclose the name of the island or the production company that would be involved with planning, adding that more information would be released in the next few months.
The first Fyre Fest took place in 2017 and was advertised as a luxury music festival taking place in the Bahamas. Veteran rapper Ja Rule was involved in the organization of the event, but it quickly turned into one of the most disastrous concert failures ever with people being stranded without much shelter or food. McFarland was sentenced to six years in prison for fraud related to the event, and he was released from prison in 2022. He still owes $26 million in restitution to concertgoers.
McFarland has also been busy consulting the presidential campaign of Donald Trump, steering rap celebs such as Waka Flocka Flame to endorse his run for office. He does feel there will be a turnout for Fyre Fest II. “I think there’s a large number of people who want to go to Fyre II because they’re unsure of the outcome, and they would like to have a front-row seat no matter what happens,” he said. “Thankfully, we have good partners who will make sure they’re safe and obviously make sure things work out.”