Netflix's Fyre Festival Documentary Was Even More Disturbing Than People Anticipated
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WARNING: SPOILER ALERT
Everything about Fyre Festival oozed luxury, at least on the surface that was the case.
Attendees were promised everything from yacht parties to the finest food - Kendall Jenner was reportedly paid $250,000 for the post to her 100 million Instagram followers, announcing the event.
And it wasn't only Jenner, other model-slash-influencers such as Bella Hadid, Emily Ratajkowski and Hailey Baldwin were using #fyrefestival on their accounts to promote the 2017 phenomenon which was due to take place on an island in the Bahamas 'once owned by Pablo Escobar'. Tickets for the festival were available for up to $75,000 (£58,000).
But instead of the expected luxury accommodation, festival-goers were met what was described as the Hunger Games for millennials.
When the news first emerged of the harsh reality, it was probably easier than it should have been for people to snigger in a 'told-you-so' way. Was that more out of jealousy? Probably.
But then Netflix released new documentary Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened and people were disturbed to say the least.
pic.twitter.com/KuJYxfsQJ4
- Ja Rule (@Ruleyork) April 28, 2017
The documentary delves into the grim and extremely unsettling true story of Billy McFarland, the CEO and founder of Fyre Media, and rapper Ja Rule's attempt at putting on a Coachella-style festival.
Watching it certainly brought home some pretty devastating issues to say the very least.
First of all, it was highlighted to us just how simple it was, and very much still is, for Instagram and 'influencers' to cloud our judgement.
The fyre festival documentary.... I knew it was a shit show, but WOW it was a 10/10 shit show
- :loud_sound:Daniel Joseph:loud_sound: (@SombreromanDan) January 24, 2019
As consumers, we're manipulated each and every day by the simplest of things: the BOGOF offer in Morrisons, for example. But, scarily, this can be easily up-scaled.
Eager revellers still travelled to the 'festival' despite many of the artists pulling out, and false promises being publicly debunked, according to Mashable. This led to people being left stranded in airports with no access to food or water.
That #FyreFestival documentary on Netflix is compelling stuff and just highlights everything that is wrong with today's society. My only sympathy lies with the island locals and that poor cook who lost her life savings. Also, if you're an 'influencer' get in the fucking sea :middle_finger:
- Andrew Holley (@Andy_Holley) January 21, 2019
Bahamian locals who were contracted to work on the festival were left penniless with nearly each and every one of the workers going unpaid.
One woman, Maryann Rolle, manager at the Exuma Point Bar and Grille, had to pay more than £38,000 ($50,000) of her own money to staff after the sudden cancellation of the Fyre Festival.
Maryann set up a GoFundMe page in a bid to hopefully raise some of the money she lost - and with a target of £90,000 ($123,000) target, she's already raised over £104,000 ($135,000).
On the fundraising page she wrote: "As I make this plea it's hard to believe and embarrassing to admit that I was not paid. I was left in a big hole! My life was changed forever, and my credit was ruined by Fyre Fest. My only resource today is to appeal for help."
I had an amazing vision to create a festival like NO OTHER!!! I would NEVER SCAM or FRAUD anyone what sense does that make???
- Ja Rule (@Ruleyork) January 20, 2019
I too was hustled, scammed, bamboozled, hood winked, lead astray!!!
- Ja Rule (@Ruleyork) January 20, 2019
Back in October 2018, Billy McFarland ended up being sentenced to six years in prison on fraud charges, and was ordered to cough up $26 million.
Ja Rule was not arrested or charged in connection with the fraud.
Featured Image Credit: Netflix
Topics: Entertainment, TV and Film, Netflix
