Billy McFarland Claims Fyre Festival 2 is Progressing Despite Doubts
Billy McFarland is no stranger to scrutiny, especially following the infamous Fyre Festival disaster in 2017. The convicted fraudster is adamant that the second edition is on track, even countering Playa del Carmen officials’ statements by presenting what he claims are signed documents.
When tickets for Fyre Festival 2 became available in February, the initial venue was listed as Isla Mujeres in Mexico. However, the island’s tourism authority later informed the media that organizers had not made any contact, leading McFarland and his team to switch the location to Playa del Carmen.
On April 2, the City Hall of Playa del Carmen took to social media to address the situation. A translated statement reads, “In response to rumors about a supposed event called ‘Fyre 2,’ we inform you that no event of that name will be held in Playa del Carmen. After a thorough review, there is no record or planning of any such event in the municipality.”
Despite the official statements, McFarland insists that Fyre Festival 2 is indeed moving forward in Playa del Carmen. In an Instagram post, he claimed that media reports to the contrary are “simply inaccurate and based on misinformation,” asserting that his team has “followed the proper processes and procedures to lawfully host an event.”
In his post, McFarland shared a slideshow of what he asserts are communications and documents related to the event, including artist invitations and special event permits.
The original Fyre Festival became notorious for its disastrous conditions, where attendees arriving in the Exumas, Bahamas, were met with inadequate food and shelter, along with the absence of promised entertainment. McFarland served four years in federal prison for wire fraud, with both Netflix and Hulu releasing documentaries detailing the fiasco.
Tickets for Fyre Festival 2 range from $1,400 to $1.1 million for a premium package called Prometheus. With the event scheduled for May 30 – June 2, no lineup details have been disclosed as the date approaches.
