Billy McFarland's FYRE Festival Turns into Disaster
Published on 7.15.25
Billy McFarland's FYRE Festival was a luxury glamping experience in the Bahamas that turned into a disaster, with attendees sleeping in substandard disaster-relief tents and being served basic sandwiches instead of promised gourmet meals. The event was supposed to feature big-name acts like Blink-182, Tyga, and Major Lazer, but many artists didn't show up due to lack of payment. McFarland's company, FYRE Media, went bankrupt, and he pleaded guilty to wire fraud and other crimes, resulting in a prison sentence.