‘Disaster’ Fyre Festival likened to ‘that alien movie in South Africa’ on social media

fyre festival instagram

If you pay US$12 000 for a ticket to a music festival, you’d probably expect… well, a music festival, right? That’s not what attendees to Ja Rule’s Fyre Festival experienced this weekend.

The new luxury music extravaganza, which was supposed to kick off in the Bahamas this weekend, was met with a cascading comedy of errors.

According to reports by attendees on Twitter and Instagram, festival goers arrived in the island country to find a “a disaster tent city”.

“So Fyre Fest is a complete disaster. Mass chaos. No organization. No one knows where to go,” tweets William N. Finley, who’s documenting the entire festival on Twitter.

Punk rock band Blink-182, scheduled to headline the fest, also pulled out last minute.

Flights were also cancelled to the island venue, citing overcrowding on the island itself. Many as a result were left on the island with no luggage, and seemingly no where to go.

“This is how Fyre Fest handles luggage. Just drop it out of a shipping container. At night. With no lights,” again tweets Finley.

“I feel like I’m in that alien movie in South Africa,” one attendee also tells Finlay.

Those trying to leave the island, aided by the US Embassy in the Bahamas, also hit snags.

Others who remained at the festival site were left with “barley [sic] any food or water or security or electricity”.

And the food people did receive…

Ultimately, the festival was less than impressive for those on the ground, and a disaster for the organisers on social media.

Fyre Festival took to Instagram to explain itself to those who purchased tickets.

“Things got off to an unexpected start at day one of Fyre Festival,” it remarked.

Things got off to an unexpected start at day one of Fyre Festival. FOR THOSE CURRENTLY ON GREAT EXUMA We are working to comfortably accommodate guests and deliver a great experience. If you have needs, please head to the “BLUE HOUSE” on the main festival site. Security, first aid, and Fyre Festival staff are here to assist immediately, 24/7. FOR THOSE WITH PENDING TRAVEL TO THE EXUMAS TOMORROW Due to circumstances beyond our control, and in line with a culture of safety, all inbound charter flights to the Exumas have been canceled. Your ticket and any funds uploaded to your RFID band will be refunded. Thank you for bearing with us as we work through the growing pains that every first year event experiences. Revised itinerary information will be shared soon for the remainder of this weekend and weekend two.

A post shared by FYRE FESTIVAL (@fyrefestival) on

“We are working to comfortably accommodate guests and deliver a great experience. If you have needs, please head to the “BLUE HOUSE” on the main festival site. Security, first aid, and Fyre Festival staff are here to assist immediately, 24/7.”

“Thank you for bearing with us as we work through the growing pains that every first year event experiences. Revised itinerary information will be shared soon for the remainder of this weekend and weekend two,” it concluded.

Ja Rule has yet to comment on the festival, however Fyre Festival has announced the postponement of the event on Twitter.

This is a developing story. Refresh the page for updates.

Andy Walker, former editor
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