Advertisement

Fyre Festival promoter freed on bail after initial court appearance

Billy McFarland leaves federal court in New York with defense attorney Sabrina Shroff after his arraignment Saturday.
Billy McFarland leaves federal court in New York with defense attorney Sabrina Shroff after his arraignment Saturday.
(Mary Altaffer / Associated Press)
Share

The promoter of a failed Bahamas music festival has been freed on bail a day after he was arrested on a fraud charge.

Billy McFarland left Manhattan federal court Saturday with Assistant Federal Defender Sabrina Shroff.

McFarland was charged Friday with scheming to defraud investors in his company, Fyre Media.

Advertisement

The charges stem from McFarland’s promotion of the Fyre Festival. It was billed as an ultra-luxurious event to take place on the island of Exuma over two weekends in April and May.

Ticket buyers were told headliners would include Blink-182 and the hip-hop act Migos, but performers backed out and the show was canceled.

Prosecutors say the 25-year-old McFarland used fake documents to trick investors. He was freed on $300,000 bail, telling reporters he’d love to speak but can’t.

ALSO

The affair, the twins, his mother’s coming out: Jay-Z’s ‘4:44’ makes news as it reveals beautiful truths

As the reboot of ‘Twin Peaks’ unfolds, a reminder: It’s meant to be experienced, not necessarily understood

Advertisement

Olivia de Havilland sues FX over unauthorized use of her identity in ‘Feud: Bette and Joan’

Advertisement