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.
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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.
So Fyre Fest is a complete disaster. 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
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.
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 N. Finley IV (@WNFIV) April 28, 2017
“I feel like I’m in that alien movie in South Africa,” one attendee also tells Finlay.
“I feel like I’m in that alien movie in South Africa” guy at Fyre Fest, presumably referring to the movie District 9. #fyre #fyrefestival
— William N. Finley IV (@WNFIV) April 28, 2017
Those trying to leave the island, aided by the US Embassy in the Bahamas, also hit snags.
We have now gotten off the plane because they can’t get the headcount and the manifest to match up. This is fine. #fyrefestival #fyre pic.twitter.com/W89nddb6Fe
— William N. Finley IV (@WNFIV) April 28, 2017
Others who remained at the festival site were left with “barley [sic] any food or water or security or electricity”.
Stuck at #fyrefestival trying to leave for the last 8 hours. barley any food or water or security or electricity pic.twitter.com/jHPMnJw5gx
— Lamaan (@LamaanGallal) April 28, 2017
And the food people did receive…
@FyreFraud Here’s the dinner they fed us tonight. Literally slices of bread, cheese, and salad with no dressing. #fyrefraud #fyrefestival #dumpsterfyre pic.twitter.com/NmNXakSFlq
— Tr3vor (@trev4president) April 28, 2017
Welcome to my life https://t.co/dHNndj1F5C
— William N. Finley IV (@WNFIV) April 28, 2017
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.
“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.
Due to unforeseen and extenuating circumstances, Fyre Festival has been fully postponed (con’t)
— Fyre Festival (@fyrefestival) April 28, 2017
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