The spectacular failure that was Ja Rule‘s Fyre Festival went viral over the weekend with stacks of clips and pictures emerging online showing just how badly the festival’s organisers failed to deliver on their promise of a “luxury” experience.
Ja Rule and his partner Billy McFarland are now, unsurprisingly, facing reprisal from up to 150 participants who are suing the festival for failing to provide even the basic necessities, let alone the outlandish luxury that was advertised.
Business Insider reports that the $132 million AUD lawsuit has been filed by celebrity lawyer Mark Geragos, and alleges that the “festival’s lack of adequate food, water, shelter, and medical care created a dangerous and panicked situation among attendees — suddenly finding themselves stranded on a remote island without basic provisions — that was closer to ‘The Hunger Games’ or ‘Lord of the Flies’ than Coachella.”
McFarland apologised to punters after the fact in an interview with Rolling Stone, admitting that he and Ja Rule were “a little naive” to think they could’ve pulled off the festival in an area with so little infrastructure.
Ja Rule issued his own apology via a statement on social media, in which he insisted that the festival was “NOT A SCAM.” In the statement he also admitted responsibility but refused to accept that the events that transpired were his fault.
— Ja Rule (@jarule) April 28, 2017
The apologies may mean little if the lawsuit goes ahead, with Variety reporting that its unlikely that organisers would have the money to pay out in the event that they lose in court.
Ticketholders for this year’s failed event have also already been offered VIP passes to next year’s event, if they choose to forgo a refund for this year’s tickets.
just fyi: Fyre Festival customers can forgo a refund in exchange for VIP passes to next year’s festival 🙂 pic.twitter.com/nUWWlpKX9R
— Joe Coscarelli (@joecoscarelli) May 1, 2017
Check out the ridiculous promotional video for Fyre, below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkovBKfcSJ8
