Fyre alarm: Mexican officials clueless about fraudulent festival’s reboot on Isla Mujeres

The Fyre Festival, a fraudulent luxury euphony festival held successful 2017 that was the taxable of documentaries released connected Netflix and Hulu, is attempting a 2nd variation connected Isla Mujeres successful Mexico’s Riviera Maya. 

However, section Quintana Roo authorities accidental they person not authorized the forthcoming festival — which is scheduled to instrumentality spot successful conscionable 3 months. 

🔥 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE pic.twitter.com/8gnv6gNPb4

— Billy McFarland (@pyrtbilly) February 24, 2025

“Derived from accusation circulating successful the media astir the lawsuit ‘Fyre Festival II,’ the General Directorate of Tourism of Isla Mujeres informs that nary idiosyncratic oregon institution has requested permits from this bureau oregon Municipal Government section for said event,” the metropolis authorities of Isla Mujeres said successful a statement connected societal media. 

News of the event’s instrumentality dispersed accelerated online aft its 33-year-old laminitis — and convicted fraudster — Billy McFarland posted connected X connected Monday that the festival would instrumentality spot connected Isla Mujeres from May 30 to June 2.  

In his post, McFarland wrote that “Fyre 2 is simply a three-day flight to the Mexican Caribbean” wherever attendees volition “explore by day” and “come unneurotic astatine nighttime to observe with music.”

The property merchandise besides promises first-class accommodations acknowledgment to a collaboration with the “Mexican Caribbean’s finest hospitality providers.”

Acknowledging the festival’s spectacular nonaccomplishment successful 2017, for which helium spent 4 years successful prison, McFarland promises that this clip around, he’ll bash things right. 

“I’m definite galore radical deliberation I’m brainsick for doing this again. But I consciousness I’d beryllium brainsick for not doing it again,” helium wrote. “The caller squad and I person astonishing plans for Fyre 2. The escapade seekers who spot the imaginativeness and instrumentality the leap volition assistance marque history.” 

Tickets for Fyre 2 scope from US $1,400 to $1.1 million.

What happened with Fyre 1?

The archetypal Fyre Festival, which sold time passes for $500 to $1,500, and VIP packages including airfare and accommodation for $12,000, was scheduled to instrumentality spot successful April 2017 successful the Bahamas. It gained popularity aft it was heavy promoted connected societal media by influencers and celebrities earlier unfolding successful a monumental disaster. 

The meal that @fyrefestival promised america was catered by Steven Starr is virtually bread, cheese, and crockery with dressing. #fyrefestival pic.twitter.com/I8d0UlSNbd

— Tr3vor (@tr3vorx) April 28, 2017

When attendees arrived astatine the still-under-construction venue connected the land of Exumas, they were met with large disorganization, flimsy camping tents alternatively of luxury villas and the present legendary food sandwich, which was served to underwhelmed attendees connected the archetypal time of the event.  

As images of the makeshift festival went viral connected societal media, bands that were booked to perform, specified arsenic Blink-182 and Major Lazer, canceled their performances. 

One twelvemonth later, McFarland pleaded blameworthy to charges of ligament fraud, slope fraud and making mendacious statements to national officials.  

With reports from CNN and Sky News