- Fyre Festival 2 is shaping up to be as chaotic as its first outing
- Tickets went on sale recently but its island host is denying the event exists
- It comes eight years after infamous first festival took place
Uh-oh, it looks like Fyre Festival 2 is shaping up to be just as chaotic as its first outing. Who would’ve guessed, eh?
Eight years have passed since American entrepreneur Billy McFarland attempted – and spectacularly failed – to host his own glitzy, star-filled music festival in the Bahamas. The original Fyre Festival ended up so bad, most of its attendees were left stranded with no accommodation or route home from its island setting.
Read more: Fyre Festival 2 dates, lineup, new location, tickets
In fact, the whole Fyre Festival ordeal was so bad, it spawned two different documentaries chronicling McFarland’s wild attempts at hosting his own boujee and influencer-filled showcase.
When all was said and done, the founder had landed himself with multiple lawsuits and a six-year prison sentence.
Refunds guaranteed at Fyre Festival 2… apparently
Still, it hasn’t stopped him from trying again.
Fyre Festival 2 was announced earlier this year, raising eye-brows all across the internet. Tickets went on sale shortly afterwards, with Fyre Festival handling primary sales and ticketing partner SoldOut.com handling secondary purchases.
Read more: Who is Fyre Festival founder Billy McFarland?
What’s more, the event’s ticketing partner will also guarantee refunds should anything go awry. “All proceeds from Fyre Festival ticket sales on SoldOut.com are held securely and will not be settled with Fyre until after the event has successfully taken place,” read a statement for the company.
So far, so good, right? Well, not really. According to the tourist board at the event’s new island home, Fyre Festival 2 isn’t even taking place.
Fyre Festival 2 “does not exist” says tourism boss
Fyre Festival 2 will whisk festival lovers off to the Isla Mujeres in the Gulf of Mexico. However, people don’t seem to have told their tourist board.
As reported by The Guardian, tourism directorate Edgar Gasca as reportedly had zero contact with any person or company” regarding any potential Fyre Festival 2 taking place on their turf.
“For us, this is an event that does not exist,” explained Gasca, adding “This festival is not going to happen. There are red flags all over the place,” Gasca continued. “If you go on their website and take the coordinates they provide, then put them in Google Maps, it takes you to the ocean — between Cancún and Isla Mujeres.”
As if that wasn’t damning enough, the island’s official Facebook page alleged that no permits have been requested or issued that would allow for Fyre Festival 2 to take place in Isla Mujeres.
Has Billy McFarland responded to Isla Mujeres tourism board?
He has. McFarland took to his own Instagram page to clear up any confusion surrounding the status of Fyre Festival 2.
During a spoken statement, he assured music fans that “Fyre 2 is real”, adding that, unlike the first festival, they “have accommodations” confirmed.
“First, Fyre 2 is real. 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.”
“Villas, yachts and hotels”
As for those permits, McFarland explained “The organizers didn’t even bother to approach the authorities. It’s very strange, because any manager knows that if you’re going to hold an event, let alone a massive event, you need municipal authorization.
“I think they thought they would just announce it and see if it got traction, then ask for the permits halfway down the path. It’s a bit of a naive way to think.”
As for that much-needed accommodation? McFarland says they “include contracts” alongside “villas, yachts and hotels.”
Will Fyre Festival 2 actually go ahead without a hitch? Only time will tell.
