Fyre Festival Reaches $2 Million Settlement In Class-Action Lawsuit: Report

BY Erika Marie 2.2K Views
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Billy McFarland, Ja Rule, Settlement, Class Action Lawsuit, Fyre Festival
The 277 ticket holders of the faux festival will divide the case evenly.

It's the gift that keeps on giving. The Fyre Festival was a cultural phenomenon that we all witnessed melt down in real-time, and the controversial festival-that-never-was remains tangled in the courts. Lawsuits against just about everybody have been played out in front of judges as people involved in the faux festival have been called to the carpet. The infamous organizer, Billy McFarland, is currently serving out a six-year sentence after pleading guilty to mail and wire fraud charges back in 2018. His Fyre partner, Ja Rule, continues to be ridiculed for his involvement.

Next week marks the four-year anniversary of the collapse of the Fyre Festival and finally, 277 ticket holders have reached a settlement in the class-action lawsuit. The New York Times reports that on Tuesday (April 13), a $2 million settlement was reached in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Although an agreement has been made, it still needs to be approved in a separate hearing on May 13.

According to the publication, the 277 ticket holders will receive $7,220 each to make up for their harrowing experience. Attendees famously shared images of the festival that was promoted as an exclusive, lavish, island getaway. Instead, they were met with food that was barely edible and inhabitable living quarters.

“Billy went to jail, ticket holders can get some money back, and some very entertaining documentaries were made,” said Ben Meiselas, a partner at the law firm representing the ticket holders. “Now that’s justice.”

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About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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