Politics / NewsPolitics / NewsFyre Festival organiser pleads guilty to fraudBilly McFarland faces a decade in prisonShareLink copied ✔️March 7, 2018March 7, 2018Text Sanjay Patel Billy McFarland, the organiser of the disastrous Fyre Festival which stranded tons of rich kids on an island with bad cheese sandwiches, now faces wire-fraud charges for lying to investors and crafting false documents. The 26-year-old has spoke in the Manhattan court of his regret, and apologised to “his team, family and supporters”. The result of the failed festival has led prosecutors to suggest an 8-10 year prison sentence. The Bahamas-based festival sold tickets costing up to $12,780 for a luxury four-person package. Attendees where promised a mixture of culture, music, and art. The line-up included Migos, Skepta, Kaytranada and Blink-182. Paid promoters included a host of celebrities, including Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid, who faced huge amounts of backlash after encouraging their fans to spend thousands on the two day shitstorm. Fyre Festival was the last time in modern American history that we’ve punished the rich— JuanPa (@jpbrammer) March 7, 2018 McFarland explained that he planned to create a legitimate festival as a development on a web-based application that he started in 2016. The application was designed to help private individuals looking to book artists for concerts. “I grossly underestimated the resources that would be necessary to hold an event of this magnitude,” he explained, as reported by the Guardian. Images from the site last summer posted to social media showed scattered tents, pitiful meals and run-down toilets. Basically, Lord of the Flies-esque but with young American finance grads. The lawsuit filed in LA described it as “nothing more than a get-rich-quick scam”. McFarland also admitted to providing false information to the ticket vendor about the business’ finances, as well as forging documents to nab investors. For now, he has been granted bail and faces sentencing in June 2018. Escape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy Expand your creative community and connect with 15,000 creatives from around the world.TrendingNike celebrates the culture of U.S. soccerAs the world’s biggest soccer moment approaches, Nike’s new Express Collection celebrates U.S. Soccer while continuing its legacy of investing in the culture of the gameFashionLife & Culture‘We’ve been left to rot’: Inside Britain’s new Bedroom Generation PumaFashionSalehe Bembury’s Puma collection is a love letter to the football communityFilm & TV7 sex worker-approved films about sex workMusicThe 5 best tracks on Olivia Rodrigo’s new albumBeautyWtf is Bimbo Stoicism? Unpacking the internet’s wildest new beauty trendArt & PhotographyDressing for a ball: Dazed serves football couture for summerMusicOlivia Rodrigo: ‘A breakup can be an opportunity to redirect your life’Life & CultureGen Z’s new drug of choice? CaffeineEscape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy