Fyre Festival could return, but this time: “Without the cheese rolls.”
Limewire, a platform for sharing files that is previously known for its role in the distribution of illegal materials, announced on Tuesday 16 September that it acquired the Fyre festival brand. Limewire paid $ 245,000 for the infamous brand via an eBay auction in July, Julian Zehetmayr, CEO of LimeWire, told USA Today.
“We believe that Fyre should stay close to his original vision instead of becoming something completely different. Although we are still in the planning phase, the goal would be to eventually organize something physical – an experience that can finally deliver on the promise, but with transparency and trust this time,” Zehetmoyr added.
Fyre Festival became known in 2017, when a Caribbean Music and Culture Festival went wrong under the leadership of Billy McFarland. The festival was washed away by the weather, promised luxury accommodations and food were nowhere to be found (except for some pathetic sandwiches), and guests only remained one evening of what an experience of two weeks should be. The festival led to two documentaries and a comic musical is now in the making, with singer Rita Ora in the lead role.
Zehetmoyr said that Limewire is “very aware” of how Fyre Festival is seen by most people, but the brand that looks forward to achieving a new sense of honesty, in combination with self -consciousness and humor.
More Fyre Festival: ‘Spectacular’ Failure Fyre Festival will be a musical by Taika Waititi, Rita Ora
The sale comes after McFarland tried to organize a second iteration of the Music and Culture Festival this summer. However, after various location changes and a lack of confirmed artists, the festival was canceled.
Part of the sale to pay a refund
In 2018, McFarland was sentenced to six years in prison for entering into various fraudulent schemes with regard to Fyre Festival, including cheating investors of $ 26 million and more than $ 100,000 in fraudulent schemes. As part of his conviction, McFarland agreed to pay $ 26 million in refunds to those who attended the 2017 festival.
McFarland told USA Today on September 16 that he is looking forward to paying part of his refund with a part of the brand sales.
Billy McFarland, organizer of Fyre Festival, leaves the American federal court in Manhattan after his presentation about the costs of wire fraud in New York City on July 1, 2017.
What was Fyre Festival about?
Fyre Festival was promoted as a two-week music and art festival in the Bahamas in the summer of 2017. Influences such as Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid and Hailey Bieber shared their excitement for the festival, and Ticketholders were promised versions of acts such as Blink-182 and Migos.
On arrival, however, festival goers learned that the artists had canceled. Poor Caribbean weather, a lack of reasonable adjustments and food led to evacuation of those present after a night.
Perhaps the festival is best known for a viral photo of an employee of a sandwich – a piece of bread with a single piece of cheese on it.
More Fyre Festival: Billy McFarland sells Fyre Festival Brand on eBay for $ 245k. See what the buyer gets.
To wait. When was Limewire restarted?
Limewire was a notorious peer-to-peer software for sharing files in the early 2000s. Developed in 2000, the software was closed in 2010 after a long legal battle.
Limewire restarted in 2022 as a marketplace for non -flawed tokens or NFTs.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter in USA Today. Story idea? E -mail her on [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA Today: LimeWire Buys Fyre Festival, Reviving Brand Without Cheese Sandwiches
