‘It was an absolute Fyre Festival.’ Before Miami contestants were enlisted to save the world, another group signed up in Montreal. But where were the cameras? By the end of the festival, it would’ve made the show True Detective.
“Fyre” happened over Labor Day weekend on Fyre Media’s private island, the largest such operation in history. It was billed as a luxury retreat, but instead of beach parties with beach balls, there was a pool full of naked models. The event was called by the stage name “The Fyre Camp” on the side of Fyre Media’s website, but the reality turned out to be not quite as glamorous.
In the aftermath, hundreds were injured, and almost half the guests got stuck in the “Fyre” by the end. So now, with a new season of the reality competition beginning, we’ve put together everything you need to know about the Fyre Festival to prepare you for what’s sure to be one of the worst shows you’ll ever see on television. Just as in True Detective, we’ll start with the official investigation and then turn to the truth behind the festival.
How did it all get so bad?
In short, the story about Fyre came about when Fyre Media (aka former music promoter Jay Z) was trying to monetize his former concert tours. In 2019, he had sold more than 70 concerts, many involving celebrities, and he could make millions by having musicians and bands play for his fans and making money off of the fees he paid. In 2012, when he took over Zappos, which he founded in 1997, he turned it into an online shoe store, adding a service he used to take care of business.
In 2019, he was trying to monetize those concerts. While many of them were happening, Fyre Media was going out as