[Image: Flickr]
Tickets went on sale yesterday for Fyre Festival 2, nearly eight years after the infamous Bahamas festival fiasco that led to its founder being imprisoned.
This time Billy McFarland promises it’s all legit and totes happening, and the new event – scheduled to take place in Mexico from May 30 to June 2 – is being advertised under the slogan “FYRE Festival 2 is real,” with tickets starting at $1,400 (R25,000).
Fyre Festival said in a statement on Monday, “After years of reflection and now thoughtful planning, the new team and I have amazing plans for FYRE 2.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE pic.twitter.com/8gnv6gNPb4
— Billy McFarland (@pyrtbilly) February 24, 2025
Sounds familiar though, and if you don’t recall the first Fyre F*ckup, the event was billed as the ultimate luxury experience in the Bahamas with deluxe accommodations that never existed. All the musical acts bailed on Billy and influencers and plebs alike were left sweating out their molly in a tiny hot airport.
His partner at the time, that annoying airhead Ja-Rule, had already exited stage left when things went pear-shaped, so McFarland was left holding the glowstick. It was a brutal public humiliation and eventually led to the shyster pleading guilty to a $26 million wire fraud and serving nearly four years in prison.
Federal prosecutors in New York called him a “consummate con artist” whose propensity to commit crimes is “extraordinary.”
Now consummate Billy is back.
“I’m sure many people think I’m crazy for doing this again. But I feel I’d be crazy not to do it again.”
The new festival promises “an electrifying celebration of music, arts, cuisine, comedy, fashion, gaming, sports, and treasure hunting — all set in the stunning location of Isla Mujeres, Mexico.”
“Experience unforgettable performances, immersive experiences, and an atmosphere that redefines creativity and culture.”
McFarland told “Good Morning America” in 2022 that he’s had time to reflect on his wrongdoings while in prison.
“I was wrong. I messed up. And I was so driven by this desperate desire to prove people right. … I think I was just so insecure that I thought the only way to prove myself to them was to succeed,” he said. “That led me down just this terrible path of bad decisions.”
As someone noted in the comments section, “The map coordinates (21°12’32.3″N 86°43’43.3″ W) on the website show as the middle of the ocean,” and no musical act has been confirmed yet, so Billy’s not off to a good start.
Ticket and hospitality packages for the new festival range from $1,400 to $1.1 million, so if you’re willing to put your faith in Billy, you can buy tickets here.
[Source: ABC]
