-
South African election results renew debate over identity-based voting
-
Post-election pressures complicate US and Israeli decisions on Iran
-
South African voters report smoother local election but declining IEC trust
-
UN members approve talks on treaty protocol against environmental crime
-
Dolly Parton museum and Nashville hotel open after singer’s death
-
Family-run West Sussex beach café prepares for first winter season
-
George and Amal Clooney attend New York political-comedy reading
-
CT scans reveal health and burial clues from Egypt’s Braided Lady mummy
-
British buyers pay substantial premiums for period-home appearance
-
Oxford faces complaints over lecturer’s classroom attire
-
Thomas Markle released to house arrest after child-abuse-image charge
-
Kyren Wilson and John Higgins reach International Championship snooker final
-
Dawn of War 4 developers chose Adeptus Mechanicus for tactical variety
-
New Zealand and Tonga meet for place in Rugby League World Cup final
-
Italy face unbeaten South Africa in Turin Nations Championship match
-
Reports of unsafe AI-toy responses renew calls for child-safety rules
-
ChatGPT interactive interface feature tested across six custom tools
-
Juneau food network combines difficult supply routes with deep sharing traditions
-
Freshways milk-price cut deepens pressure on UK dairy farms
-
India climbs green-transition ranking after first emissions decline in 25 years
-
Labour and National remain virtually tied as New Zealand vote count advances
-
Trump names Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff after midterm losses
-
The Good Daughter adapts Karin Slaughter thriller with Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy
-
Restored Albanian tower houses anchor new rural tourism trail
-
Heavy-lift drone evacuates wounded Ukrainian soldier from frontline kill zone
-
Sonia Gandhi reflects on family tragedy and reluctant political career
-
Morrison says West Brom recovered after pressure from successive derby losses
-
Pope Leo begins three-country South American tour in Uruguay
-
Britain considers 2027 state visit for Ukraine’s Zelensky
-
Khawaja says entire Australia camp knew of 2018 ball-tampering plan
-
Arizona Democrats Secure Historic Trifecta with New Legislative Leadership
-
Anna Miltina Confronted with Racism Allegations on ProSieben Show
-
Carney Welcomes U.S. Trade Reversal After Democratic Midterm Victory
Fool me once? Fyre Festival wants a second chance
The fraudulent organizer of the infamous Fyre Festival is amped for round two, announcing a reprise of the Caribbean event that lacked music, food or adequate shelter and landed its founder in prison.
But convicted con artist Billy McFarland says this time will be different.
Donning a white robe and wireless headphones, McFarland said in a recent video posted to social media that "it has been the absolute wildest journey to get here."
"And it really all started during the seventh month stint in solitary confinement."
The 2017 edition of Fyre was advertised as the "cultural experience of the decade," but when revelers arrived on the Bahamian island Exuma, they found lackluster cheese sandwiches, disaster relief-style tents and no music -- after paying thousands of dollars to attend.
Numerous festival-goers posted pictures on social media of the shambolic scenes, leading to online mockery of the high prices many had paid.
McFarland in 2018 admitted wire fraud. Along with jail time he was ordered to forfeit $26 million.
After serving under four years of his six-year sentence, he was released to a halfway house, and was under house arrest until September 2022.
In his Instagram video, McFarland, 31, said that while incarcerated he devised numerous projects revolving around the "interest and demand in Fyre," including another documentary and a Broadway musical before opting for another go at holding the event.
On Tuesday McFarland said the first 100 tickets for Fyre Festival II had sold out, and that all ticket revenue would be held in escrow "until the final date is announced."
He has vowed "pop-ups and events across the world" ahead of the event, which he's aiming to hold at the end of 2024.
Along with the lack of a date, organizers have not announced a lineup -- or even a precise location.
There is, however, a Google Maps listing on the Fyre website.
Users who click on it will be taken to... the Caribbean Sea.
E.Schubert--BTB