Concern over the highly publicized return of the fraudulent Fyre Festival is mounting after the government of the Mexican island where this year’s music event is supposed to take place issued a statement this week saying organizers have not requested permits.
Billy McFarland, creator of the disastrous 2017 Fyre Festival, which scammed people out of thousands of dollars, was sentenced to 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.”
The three-day music and arts event is scheduled to take place on Isla Mujeres, Mexico, between May 30 and June 2, but the government of Isla Mujeres doesn’t seem so sure.
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Isla Mujere’s Feb. 26 statement regarding Fyre Festival permits. (Facebook/ Isla Mujeres)
“Due to information circulating in the media regarding the ‘FYRE FESTIVAL II,’ the General Directorate of Tourism of Isla Mujeres informs that no person or company has requested permits from this office or any other Municipal Government department for said event,” the Isla Mujeres government posted in a Feb. 26 statement on its Facebook page.
Edgar Gasca, from the tourism directorate of Isla Mujeres, told The Guardian that Isla Mujeres leaders “have no knowledge of this event, nor contact with any person or company about it.”
“For us, this is an event that does not exist.”
The original 2017 Fyre Fest promised big-name music acts including 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.
William “Billy” McFarland is promising a successful three-day Fyre Fest 2 in Isla Mujeres, Mexico, between May 30 and June 2. (jfizzy/Star Max/GC Images/)
Ultimately, however, the festival failed and 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.
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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.
Accommodations at Fyre Fest in 2017 in the Bahamas. (Splash News)
The festival reached a settlement with 277 ticket holders in 2021, when it was ordered to pay each recipient an award of $7,220.
Mark Breen, strategic director at Safe Events Global, told Fox News Digital that it is “of course possible that Fyre Festival 2 can succeed where Fyre Festival 1 failed so dismally.”
A food tent at Fyre Fest in 2017 in the Bahamas. (Splash News)
“In order for that to happen, though, Billy will have to do what he did acknowledge at the time he didn’t do, and should have done, for Fyre Festival 1 — he needs to actually involve proven experienced event and festival professionals, who have delivered events and festivals at this scale before,” Breen said. “If he does that, there’s no reason his stated vision for Fyre Festival 2 can’t actually be realized. Whether he actually does it though remains to be seen.”
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Fyre Fest attendees stand outside tents in the Bahamas in 2017. (Splash News)
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.
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William “Billy” McFarland, organizer of the Fyre Festival, exits the U.S. Federal Court in Manhattan following his presentment on wire fraud charges on July 1, 2017. (Reuters/Brendan McDermid)
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.”
In a video posted to X on Tuesday, McFarland laid out seven different promises for the returning event, the first being, “Fyre 2 is real.”
Photo of a port-o-potty at Fyre Fest in 2017. (Splash News)
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“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. Three, we have accommodations. Naturally, this is a huge point of emphasis given the issues surrounding Fyre 1. Our accommodations include contracts with a number of villas, yachts and hotels,” McFarland said in the video.
He went on to explain that Fyre Fest 2 has booked “artists, athletes and performers” and promises that “restitution is being paid.”
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“Since being released 30 months ago, I’ve made 40 payments to restitution,” McFarland said. “I’ve also made it my mission to do more than legally required. Part of this is giving part of Fyre 2’s budget and profits directly to restitution.”
He added that he and his partners have been communicating with “local and state government 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.”
Attendees can expect future updates about the festival to come directly from McFarland himself, he said.
