Convicted Fyre Fest fraudster Billy McFarland's return to Mexico 'sounds like a ticking time bomb': experts
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Second time’s the charm.

Or so says Billy McFarland, creator of the disastrous 2017 Fyre Festival, which scammed people out of thousands of dollars and landed McFarland six years of prison time for his financial crimes, though he only ended up serving about four years from 2018 to 2022.

“I’m sure many people think I’m crazy for doing this again,” McFarland said Monday in a statement. “But I’d feel crazy not to do it again. After years of reflection and thoughtful planning, the new team and I have amazing plans for FYRE 2.”

McFarland added that the “adventure seekers out there who trust the vision and take the leap will help make history.”

Billy McFarland visits "Jesse Watters Primetime" at Fox News Studios

Billy McFarland visits “Jesse Watters Primetime” at Fox News Studios in New York City on Aug. 25, 2023. (Theo Wargo)

“Social media seems to be loving the Fyre Festival news, which is probably the attention that Billy wants, but this is not a way to repair an image or trust when you’re looking to make a profit on folks while STILL being in debt to the original festival goers and leaving them with nothing years later still,” Mustac said.

Media Culture CEO Christena Garduno had a slightly different opinion, telling Fox News Digital that “Fyre Festival 2 can certainly capitalize on its notorious past by embracing the ‘bad press is good press’ mantra, but it requires a strategic shift.”

“The key to overcoming their reputation will be complete transparency and a commitment to delivering an experience that exceeds expectations,” Garduno explained. “This time, they should lean into their redemption story — showing growth, accountability and a genuine effort to do things right. If they can balance the allure of exclusivity with strong brand messaging and ensure real customer value, the negative press could actually fuel curiosity and drive ticket sales.”

The 2017 Fyre Fest scam went viral on social media after Hulu and Netflix published documentaries about the failed beach bash, making the #fyrefraud hashtag go viral at the time.

A photo of a meal at the fest — specifically, a shabby sandwich on white bread thrown together in a Styrofoam box — also went viral, showcasing one small part of the larger scam that was the original Fyre Fest eight years ago.

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