Fyre Festivalorganizers Billy McFarland and Ja Rule are already facing several major lawsuits after attempting to put on a music festival in the Bahamas, only to have it collapse before it began.
According to a new report in The New York Times, the cofounders of Fyre Media, who put on the event, are now facing a criminal investigation by the US attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York and the FBI. Investigators are reportedly looking into allegations of possible mail, wire, and securities fraud.
“I cannot emphasize enough how sorry I am that we fell short of our goal,” cofounder Billy McFarland said in a statement to the Times. “I’m committed to, and working actively to, find a way to make this right, not just for investors but for those who planned to attend.”
The founders are also facing several lawsuits, including one from the festival’s investors, who allege they’re missing millions, as well as several from attendees who claim breach of contract, breach of covenant of good faith, and negligent misrepresentation on the part of the organizers and the PR firms who represented them.
Here’s the full Fyre Festival promo video:
Several of the pending suits outline what the expectations were for this supposedly "luxury" festival vs. what actually happened. Take a look at the pictures below:
The three-day party was supposed to be on a private beach on the island of Great Exuma in the Bahamas.
It was supposed to be over two weekends: April 28-30 and May 5-7.
A host of supermodels had promoted it on social media, including Hailey Baldwin, Emily Ratajkowski, and Bella Hadid.
Guests expected to party on the white sand beaches.
But when they turned up, it didn't look anything like the advertisements.
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So Fyre Fest is a completedisaster. Mass chaos. No organization. No one knows where to go.There are no villas, just a disaster tent city. pic.twitter.com/1lSWtnk7cA
— William N. Finley IV (@WNFIV) April 27,2017
So Fyre Fest is a completedisaster. Mass chaos. No organization. No one knows where to go.There are no villas, just a disaster tent city. pic.twitter.com/1lSWtnk7cA
They were told they would fly in from Miami on a custom, VIP-configured Boeing 737 ...
... to have the full VIP experience.
Instead, guests ended up waiting for hours at the airport ...
Just waiting with my Fyre Fest pals to get on the flight out. The plane hasn't left Miami yet. It's lit! #fyre #fyrefestival pic.twitter.com/glIYmIG0dc
— William Needham Finley IV (@WNFIV) April 28, 2017
... and collecting their luggage from the back of a shipping container in the dead of night.
This is how Fyre Fest handles luggage. Just drop it out of a shipping container. At night. With no lights. #fyrefestival pic.twitter.com/X5CdZRyJWo
— William Needham Finley IV (@WNFIV) April 28, 2017
The ticket cost was meant to include gourmet food.
Guests were expecting Starr Catering Group to be there, but the group told Business Insider it terminated its services with Fyre on April 2. Instead, there were makeshift food tents.
Here's the "culinary experience" we got for our artists pass at Fyre Festival. pic.twitter.com/Kk9q9uvkX0
— William Needham Finley IV (@WNFIV) April 28, 2017
They were given cheese sandwiches and salads.
http://instagr.am/p/BTbufBjhugm
Fans were expecting to see Blink-182 perform.
But the band dropped out before the festival started on Thursday.
— blink-182 (@blink182) April 27, 2017
Festivalgoers were promised luxury, eco-friendly domes and villas to stay in that were included in the ticket prices.
http://instagr.am/p/BSKKuKGBm7a
But one guest described it as a "disaster tent city."
#FyreFestival update, photos from the ground! pic.twitter.com/Z7fn9cKaz3
— FyreFestivalFraud (@FyreFraud) April 27, 2017
Some of the tents hadn't been put up.
Early report is that many of the tents aren't assembled. Here's their tropical private island owned by Escobar! #FyreFestival pic.twitter.com/TNzBDbNAUJ
— FyreFestivalFraud (@FyreFraud) April 27, 2017
Instead of partying on the beach with friends ...
... guests were trying to fly back to Miami.
Boarding the "private" plane back to Miami. Fyre Fest gets 0/5 beltlines. They'll be hearing from Stacy @MillerLawFirmNC #fyrefestival pic.twitter.com/pFLSWEwenV
— William Needham Finley IV (@WNFIV) April 28, 2017
But for some, that wasn't possible, and they ended up stranded in the airport.
Back in the airport. I don't know how to use words anymore. #FyreFestival #fyre pic.twitter.com/h12eVF4drm
— William Needham Finley IV (@WNFIV) April 28, 2017
One guest said she was kept in a room without food or water, waiting for a flight to take off. She said a person fainted because the conditions were so bad.
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We have been locked indoorswith no air NO FOOD and NO water #fyrefestival#fyrefestfyrefraud pic.twitter.com/wg5pZmSvnx
— Lamaan (@LamaanGallal) April28, 2017
We have been locked indoorswith no air NO FOOD and NO water #fyrefestival#fyrefestfyrefraud pic.twitter.com/wg5pZmSvnx
#fyrefestival#fyrefestpic.twitter.com/wg5pZmSvnxApril28, 2017
Not exactly the VIP experience they had envisioned.