Business entrepreneur convicted con man Billy McFarland ended up serving four out of a six year sentence for wire fraud in the aftermath of the mess that was Fyre Festival. You remember, that over-hyped music “festival” in 2017 that ended up having no adequate housing, food, plumbing, or music. It was so much fun, Billy marched out of prison and declared he was going to do it all again (I’m assuming that will also include a second prison sentence). Fyre Festival II is (allegedly) happening May 30 – June 2, and the preparations are moving along just as well as you’d expect. Which means not well at all. Unless you ask Billy, he says everything is great! I mean, sure, the Mexican tourism board said “this is an event that does not exist,” right after Billy announced it would go down on Isla Mujeres. But now the party has moved to Playa del Carmen… where the local government just said “Neither this event nor any event with its name will occur in our city.” But don’t believe el gobierno, Billy just posted paperwork on Instagram!
In a statement shared on Instagram on Friday, April 4, McFarland, 33, and the official Fyre Festival account wrote that the organizers have been working with the city of Playa del Carmen, Mexico, since March to secure permits for the music festival — which McFarland previously said is planned for late May/early June 2025.
“FYRE has been working directly with the government of Playa del Carmen (PDC) and their officials since March 5, 2025, to ensure a safe and successful event,” the statement reads. “All media reports suggesting our team has not been working with the government of PDC are simply inaccurate and based on misinformation.”
“FYRE has operated as a good partner with PDC government and has followed the proper processes and procedure to lawfully host an event,” the statement adds.
Also included in the Instagram post are various photos of alleged documents — such as tourism permits, environmental permits and receipts of payments made to the Playa del Carmen government — all filed or submitted over the past month.
Despite McFarland’s claims, the city of Playa del Carmen denied that the music festival is happening there, writing in a press release translated by Rolling Stone that the event “does not exist.”
“Neither this event nor any event with its name will occur in our city,” the government shared in a statement on April 3. “After looking over the information around the situation, we can confirm that there have been no registrations, planning or conditions to indicate that this will happen in our municipality.”
According to Today, McFarland said at a press conference last week that the new event would take place in Playa del Carmen — although the organizer previously claimed that the festival would be taking place in Isla Mujeres, located about an hour north of Playa del Carmen. The government of Isla Mujeres also denied that the event was taking place there.
In the Instagram post, McFarland also shared partially-redacted screenshots of emails claiming to show invitations asking musical artists to perform at the festival, although commenters were quick to point out that no performances have been announced at this point.
Well I just don’t know who to believe anymore! Billy’s literally showing us his receipts (on a platform that no longer fact checks), but then the Mexican government goes and contradicts everything he says. In the meantime, if you want a good laugh (plus a much-needed reminder that there are still sane people not taken in by a con man), I highly recommend perusing the comments to Billy’s post. I have been ragging on Billy ever since he first announced Fyre Festival II so quickly after getting sprung early from prison for his previous attempt. But with this second iteration set to hit at the end of next month, I have to give Billy some credit: it is rather smart of him to pull this stunt again while Presidents Musk & Trump dismantle the federal government. Who’s left in the building to come after him? In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re looking at a future Trump-nominated head of FEMA in Mr. McFarland. After all, he knows disasters.
At this point, anyone stupid enough to give this man money or business needs to be under a conservator.
If you spend money on this, I hope you don’t get any refunds. Come on.
The worse thing being that people are going to be THAT stupid and pay to take part. It’s all about being part of something that makes a buzz nowadays so of course a lot of people are going to get scammed. Personally, I also hope that they don’t get any refunds for being idiots.
This is the gift that keeps on giving. I’m sure it will just get cancelled at some point with no actual debacle this time, but it’s still hilarious.
ETA: “dude is just promoting the next documentary.” <- This gave me life.
It seems that Pinocchio did turn into a real boy named Billy so now you don’t see his nose grow when he is lying. Now you have Mexican towns telling us he is a liar lol.
A known con man is selling tickets to a concert with no location, no artists, no venues, and no infrastructure. Who would go to this? What if the “artists” turn out to be 3 kazoo players, and the location is a rat-infested alley? What’s the appeal? Who goes to an unknown concert in another country without knowing who’s going to perform?
The guy is trolling, big time.
Who would trust a known con man? Sadly, 80 million people. This is absurd, but we’re living in absurd times. I fully believe people are buying tickets to this and bragging about it.
hmm have George Santos and this Fyre dude ever been seen in the same place at the same time
Andy King – the guy who was willing to take one for the team to get bottled evian water at the last festival – posted on ig that he tried to get billy on the straight path but he refused to listen to his advice. hell, at this point, im sold on the next documentary and will be sat.
After all, he knows disasters.
Perfection. Applause. Well done.
This is such a joke!
And hey just because he filed some forms recently doesn’t mean it’s been approved! He really should have been on this at least a year in advance!! (If he really ever meant to do a festival). What does Ja Rule think about all this?