You would be forgiven for thinking that after Fyre Fest — the luxury music event that has since become a byword for “shitshow” — that Billy McFarland would have put his festival organising days behind him. But apparently part-way through his prison sentence for fraud, when the 31-year-old McFarland was in solitary confinement, he came to the conclusion that once was not enough. Recently released from prison — and still repaying the $26 million he owes his fraud victims — he is now planning Fyre Fest II. What could go wrong?
Announcing the festival’s comeback on his social media pages this week with the first round of ticket sales — they sold out — McFarland said: “It has been the absolute wildest journey to get here… Guys, this is your chance to get in. This is everything I’ve been working towards, let’s fucking go.” Anyone brave — or dim enough — to buy a ticket will be testing the phrase “fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me” to its very limits.
Billy McFarland and Ja Rule advertising Fyre Fest I in 2017
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