Fyre Festival's Billy McFarland gives 1st TV interview since prison release l GMA
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- čas přidán 3. 05. 2024
- McFarland, 30, talks to ABC News' Michael Strahan about his plans to pay back the roughly $26 million he owes in restitution.
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#gma #fyrefestival #billymcfarland #restitution - Zábava
Some people are rotting in jail for less or for something they didn’t do. It’s utterly disgraceful to give this guy a platform to fan out his lies.
He is White.....he has certain privilege...wink wink.
Ya totally he should most definitely be responsible for everyone else in prison innocent or not 🤣 wafj get a life clown
Boo hooo Who cares, this story is very interesting
Privilege
their fault they didn't hire a good lawyer
The sad thing is that those casual workers, builders, vendors in the island who worked their asses off are never get paid anyway. I don't care how remorseful he tries to portray himself, he is a conman who doesn't compensate people for all the work they've done.
Some of them did after the fact with generous go fund me pages, which had nothing to do with Billy.
Relax. It was their responsibility to get a contract. They didn't get one.
Pedophiles are judged with more mercy and they ruin children's lives forever.
Exactly those local workers really got robbed 😔
@@janesays1278 not true, some people's personal monies made those sandwiches.
@@tminusnyc2915 WTF are you talking about? They did have contracts. He chose not to pay them. The locals were victims in this situation and you are victim blaming.
I still very firmly believe that he knew exactly what he was doing the entire time. He, like many other con artists, just never that he would get caught, and never thought if the consequences. It really proves it when the video was released of him continuing his cons while on bail. His ego is up there in the top tiers. I just hope that nobody ever trusts him with another company. Once a crook, always a crook. Plain and simple. You didn’t let people down, he took fool blown advantage of all the people who trusted him.
Why did people care so much though like it was a bunch of rich kids
He’s confirming that he did know what he was doing the entire time.
Once a crook, not always a crook. Millions of people have turned their lives around.
He literally says that in the video. He knew he was lying to people the entire time. The thing is, he's came out and owned his sh*t, apologized, and served his time. People can change. Stop with the cancel culture bs and condemning people over 1 mistake or bad deed.
Classic narcissist.
What’s funny is that there are millions of ppl like him out there
no. millions of people didn't do fyre fest.
You mean the goverment!
Yes, they're called Politicians
like 99% of social media influencers. The biggest legal con of all :D. Advertise a bunch of scams and get away with it all the time.
Music promoters, everywhere. This was just on a whole different level. Man was trying to be LiveNation.
Why does GMA think he should have this airtime?
He's white
Well I'm not white and I am interested to see what state he is in.
Because it was a big story and they know people will click on it. They’re a business, the only thing they care about is if people click on their video or watch it on tv
@@snsn7251 yh it's because he's white. Anything bad white people do, they come on to talk about the crime. It's never happened with other races. 😒
need to get the views somehow
That wasnt even his first "big-oopsie" in fraud.
He will do it again.
He is doing it again it's called PYRT. Look it up. It's another scheme.
@@JRGProjects what is it? A music app?
@@lilbabytears some event in the Bahamas. A Scavenger hunt according to the article.
Yep completely
How is he allowing to run or promote anything after he scammed so many people
He really wants to re-enter society without being judged.
you're one to talk!!
he paid his dues, want him shunned from society forever?
@@imanuel8883 He hasn't paid spit, lol.. still owes over 26 million dollars in restitution.
Something tells me he’ll be back in jail someday.
I believe him. But I don’t think he realizes that there are other ways to make money other than the big BIG splash. So he’ll be back.
Maybe, but he will never face harsh consequences. He has spent his adult life gaming the system and will never stop. Just like another con-man who is always getting media coverage
seeing even before he went to prison the first time. While waiting on bond. He tried selling tickets to the Met Gala (which is impossible) He can't help himself. I think its a compulsion with him to scam people.
His apology sounds too rehearsed and perfect . I don’t believe it
Well yeah! The guy had 4 years to practice.
He's been media trained. I've worked PR and this is media training at its finest.
Exactly...LMFAO he's reciting lines or basically saying what his lawyers told him to.
Dude sounds like a robot
I don’t believe a single word that comes out his mouth. He’s a pathological liar. Anyone would be a fool to trust a penny with this loser.
"I use to take pride in getting things done, and not how things got done." That sounds like someone who doesn't really do...anything to get it done in the first place.
He meant he would do anything it took to get shit done even if it meant sabotaging the process
I am ashamedly obsessed with this story. As a business owner, I spend parts of my day trying to sell to potential clients. Having already gained many stellar reviews and proven results. Meanwhile this person amassed MILLIONS just on a good faith promise... I don't know if I need lessons on selling or if there's a privilege that I'll never have no matter how good of a salesperson I become.
That's how I was with the Theranos story. Like y'all gave that woman BILLIONS without her having to prove anything to you?? Based on a pinky promise?
I felt this!! I am struggling in my new business and feel the same as you
@@LaDeeDah I have had to unpack my relationship with capitalism and evaluate my objectives for owning a business. That is what keeps me going!
It's a big club...an u aint in it... George Carlin
The Theranos chick was a youthful white woman dealing with/lying to old men. This guy raised capital (by scamming) and then blew it getting relevant celebrities to fasely advertise Fyre festival. Both are bold face liars. There's nothing to learn or envy from them.
Bahaha he’s Still a conman. He was scamming people AFTER Fire festival. He’ll never change 😂
Yeah he is doing this interview so he can trap and defraud his next “business partner”
I don’t think he’s a con man. Con men think of cons they can get away with. There was no getting away from this it’s just a failure and he obviously had issues accepting defeat every step of the way
Defeat and admitting they f*cked up is really hard for a lot of people. Not everyone can just bite the bullet immediately. He kept trying to scrape and salvage until he couldn't anymore. Lots of people would've done the same. He served his time, learn to give people another chance.
@@dbacks2023- agreed. I only ever saw him as desperate and delusional.
@@atvman12fyre festival wasn't even the first time he was in trouble for fraud, nor was it the last. He's had more than enough chances. The only thing he's proved is that he's not trustworthy or a business man.
I just wouldn’t prey on people at the expense of my ego. This interview in itself is a poem to his ego.
Exactly! It's clear he came with a few prepared answers and only vaguely answered any questions.
He's been taken lessons at Trump University
Beautifully stated.
I only feel for the local residents there. How awful for them to be screwed over like that.
Why is the media still giving him press?! This exposure alone allows him to continue to make money and he's NEVER going to repay his victims! He's a narcissist and not sorry at all! Glad I wasn't one of those who were duped.
Hai wages r gonna be garnished
It's like it doesn't occur to people like him that he could just get a regular job!
Seriously... Starting another business venture? Get real dude, you're obviously not a business man lol
That was his regular job!
This is a regular job for elite sociopathic people. Even a teenager in that world would never get a regular job. They start at level 8
Everyone is missing the point. The only reason he went to jail is because he scammed rich people. Once he realizes that scamming poor people is literally what every rich person does, he’ll never go to jail again
Yeah true. He even continued scamming the same victims after he got caught
Sad. Scamming the less well off takes more time though. I don't know if he has the patience unless he becomes a politician.
Amen.
He scammed the labor workers in the Bahamas and the poor black lady that owned that blue collar bar. The guy is a true douchebag POS.
This is not true and why poor people stay poor. They all think they’re being scammed. Poor people scam themselves by not being intelligent enough to see the world for what it really is.
He came back to New York with $100 in his pocket but he didn’t say about his Millions in a safe and secret place.
He still lacks any sympathy for the people he conned just by watching this interview. The tone , his facial expression says it all to this day 😑😑
I think is a bit Asperger’s going on.
He's just had time to rehearse.. He's a narcissist...so he lacks any empathy for others..
Very frustrating that Michael didn't mention Billy also got in trouble when he was behind bars for trying to run ANOTHER con regarding fraudulent concert tickets...look it up.
@@mychulita my thoughts exactly.
His body language shows he is pissed off to tell the truth
The fact that he continued to try and con people after the fyre festival with other scams says a lot.
How insane is it that if someone steals that kind of money from a store, or bank they get decades in prison but if they lie, cheat and steal using white collar tactics they barely get a slap on the wrist.
I wouldn’t say a 6 year prison sentence is a slap on the wrist? He never was violent to steal either. I think 6 years for non violent theft compared to 15 year violent bank robbery is very fair.
@@gavinpancirov yeah people don't understand he also didn’t set out to steal, just got way in over his head with the ambition of the project. Was more a massive failure, with some deception / broken promises than outright theft
@@imanuel8883 it would take more brains to set out to scam people like this than how it turned out. He definitely had a lot of people that benefited from his downfall.
These bankers want to write big loans, & so on. It’s his fault ultimately, but it’s a complicated world playing with the big dogs
@@bretclaar1663 not everything is some big conspiracy about bankers and secret cabals. He’d had previous successes, so VCs funded him for this project, he overspent and underdelivered whilst at the same time telling his investors everything was going okay. This situation happens everyday in sillicon valley where businesses go broke, I guess you only go to jail when it affects wealthy influential customers in such a public way
I mean don’t get me wrong, he massively fucked up. But owing the $26m back for the rest of his life, and 6 years in jail is definitely enough of a punishment
I’m sure he still has his SOHO HOUSE membership
What's sad is somehow someone is going to trust him enough to give him money. Once a huckster always a huckster.
What PR agency is behind getting this spot, because they are geniuses! Getting a feature like this for the biggest con artist of all time and then have that same person announce a new business venture, that PR agency has epic skills with pitching. IJS
Hey, I’ve made a lot of mistakes myself throughout my life. Gotta keep moving forward. The $20million he owes…it can’t be paid off by him beating himself over his past.
True statement
Then go buy tickets for his next event, sucker.
he's done multiple scams since then. how many chances do we give before we just kill the guy?
FACT; he has zero to negative chance to even acquiring let along reimburse $26 million. But somehow, he knows he can get $26 million and pay it off and there are people(suckers) out there that will continue where his scam left off.
PYRT is on and FYRE 2 is next in a deserted island near you!
He seems genuine...oh yeah, he's definitely a good con artist. 😳
Billy meet Anna
Anna meet Billy
Hope you kids have a great time !
🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣🤣😂😂🤣😂🤣
the frye festival was hilarious 😂
The cheese 🧀 sandwich 🥪 lol
THIS INTERVIEW IS PART OF HIS NEXT CON...YOU CAN HEAR IT IN HIS VOICE
I saw an interview with a woman who ran a catering business on that island and had spent $50k (her life savings) on catering for Fyre and never got paid. Will she get some restitution?
Her first mistake was obviously using her life savings on a business venture that had no backing or credibility. I’d hope she had at least got some sort of down payment and perhaps contract to at least sue him and the fake company. His rich parents settled some debts.
If she is a known person on being scammed probably, but it could take years! This guy isn't going to take any ol job to be garnished paying back millions. Sad story for those that were duped but ppl should not use up their life savings to try to get more.
Go fund me gave her 150k
She had a gofundme. I donated
He totally needs to be held accountable and repay. But glad to see someone who admits they did something wrong.
did you not watch the video? he did prison time and said he would pay everyone back
He said he would. He hasn't done it, after many years, and he still doesn't.
glad he admitted they did something wrong? Eerrrr…. It was obvious.
@@kidrobot. He also was caught running another con behind bars.... the guy is a snake.
@@nickjacobs8507 what was the other con
It was like a hurricane shelter experience.
Already back in the limelight, just how he wants.
And he's back 😂😂
His lips are moving but he's not safe he's sorry and he doesn't mean a word he's saying he's still calling a con!
this still has me 😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣
The documentary was solid loved it
which one Netflix or Hulu?
One was better. Can't recall which. Hulu??
I watched it twice. So good!
🔥🔥
Good morning USA from Canada
Good morning!!
He’s out of prison already damn time flies
He put those people's lives in danger.
Ppl don’t change 🥴be carful doing business with him.
Great job GMA you turned what could have been an interesting interview into student being lectured by disappointed middle school teacher
Prison can change a person. Don't doubt the kid yet.
Another gentle GMA interview.
You can't learn how to be a good person, and learn how to do the right thing! Some people are just born without it!
Big ups to him for taking responsibility, coming clean and sitting down with GMA. I really hope he's able to pull off future ventures so he's able to pay off his restitution.
i hope all his new business ventures fail...
he kept scamming people after he was out on bail, then he announced another scam in Bahamas just recently. Why not get a 9-5 job, do something useful. This has to be a burner account...
@@chanb9040 someone taking accountability must really piss you off 🤣 total burner account I'm really Billy McFarland dumbass
@@DeezzzzNutzzzz if he took accountability, then he would not have done another scam while on bail and currently be working on a third major scam right now
Bot
“Going forward” I will be more ruthless and not get caught, I’ve learnt a lot in prison and have many new business ideas and connections
He is already talking about Fyre Festival II, as well as starting a new virtual immersible experience.
Billy should invest a couple of bucks into the Powerball lottery and hope he's lucky.
Fyre Festival 2!! Can’t wait!!
His body language.. he doesn't regret anything at alllll
And now he is setting up Fyre Festival 2. 😡
I really hope prison has humbled him. He is still very young, the fact that he was able to build his own company before the age of 30 means that he has a lot of drive and determination and I could see him building a new business empire and be able to look back on his past faults to not repeat the same mistakes.
Only 4 years and he had a documentary about how crazy he is.... Still trying to scam people... I'm convinced I did too much one night and ended up in thet twilight zone and honestly I'm here for it
This guy is a genius… he pocketed almost 26 million and only did 4 years in prison. This was a heist. That is why there are NO tears. Refugee tents and soggy sandwiches… he has that money buried in someone’s kitchen floor.
sounds like life gave him a real hard kick in the rear. i hope he continues to try to be good and works on his character. In fact, we all should probably be like that.. *holds up a mirror*
“How do you expect people to trust you?” “time!” 😂😂😂😂 billy go to hell
This guy had money squirrel away
How is it possible that Billy McFarland and Anna Delvey (two con artists) actually knew each other among the millions of people in NYC?
Once you lied to so many people, nobody will believe every words that came out of your mouth. Millions of dollars! And the sad reality is that there are many people like him in this world. Conman is the perfect label for him.
Billy ain’t changed! He sat in jail and came up with a new business and business model. He probably has tons of investors ready to throw money into his next scheme! 😂 For Christ sake, he made it to WebSummit years ago! Trust he has connections!
its refreshing to see him own up and admit his mistakes, Instead of doubling down. Everyone deserves redemption if they are willing to earn it.
So, would you buy some tickets from him?
He's probably already plotting another scam.
Sure bro, then invest all your money in his new business 😂
I saw a comment on DM: “He should marry Ana Delvey and they can start a comicCON” 💀- wish I could take credit - LMAOOOO
I didnt even know about Pirate until Strahan plugged it. Kind of put him in a catch 22 there
Atleast hes owning up to it though.
That’s what it seems like at least, that he is owning up to it, and speaking his truth. He was certainly “wrong” for all of this The interviewer certainly held him to task…
America loves a good redemption arc
I doubt he's going to get one. He's just coming up with excuses
@@eroupopper
He isn't making excuses. There is accountability here.
The day that news broke, twitter was on fire. Top 10 best days on twitter. 😂😂😂😂💀
Great 👍
those cheese sandwiches were delicious though! yum yum!
🤣🤣 The media loves manipulation. This is a joke.
Still don’t trust him
Everyone that was working for him knew it was a scam and they were all just looking for the big paycheck at the end, they all rolled over on him as a way to not go to jail or be listed in the lawsuit, yeah he hurt a lot of people but he didn't act alone.
So he launches a new venture and calls it Pirate! Wow
"Fuck you honest workers!", that's the message this guy being free sends the world.
He’s already plotting a new scam 😂
lmao he's doing another Fyre Festival
Everyone deserves a second chance.... Stay humble and caring
Lol needs to go back to prison or die
Good morning 🌄🌞 everyone
He knew it wasn’t gonna work out. A lot of people around him tried to voice their concerns but he would fire them if they spoke up. A new business?😂
I believe him…that doesn’t mean I don’t think he’s not capable of messing up again. But I do think he’s seen the error of his ways. Hope he comes back strong and is able to pay everyone back.
Everyday a sucker is born
I believe that he'd full of shit and is a disgusting dirtbag conman, plenty like him who get away with and personally he needed to be behind bars longer.
He’s didn’t learn his lesson. He’s just on to the next scam.
Honestly everyone makes mistakes and most deserve redemption once they work to be better. Who paid to start this new business, or did he use his last 100 he found in his pocket? how did he pay for a lawyer, why isn't he homeless? Is he living on a couch on his parents couch? Did he have money hidden away or have parents bail him out.
Did Billy get paid for this interview?
🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
All those rich people could afford the loss. I don't feel sorry for any of the rich people that were disappointed.
People like you are why the Republicans will allow Trump to run again. And why business owners, BoD's, and CEO's, are not interested in raising salaries and wages. And especially why customer service no longer exists anymore. Anywhere. And I don't feel sorry for people like you who are judgemental, dishonest and have zero empathy, as you don't know even one of the people who got screwed bc of Fyre Fest, or what their situation was. But you are still ready to jump straight to them "deserving it." Because they have more and you have less. And that's just not fair!!! Right???
@@skontheroad I’m NOT Republican!!! I stand by what I said!!!! Just how I feel, especially after all the local labor were used and screwed out of what they couldn’t afford to lose…like I Said.
Not the vendors though
@@TheRedart99 LOL! NO, I am quite sure that you are not a Republican! Re-read what I wrote and maybe you will understand this time.
And yes, what happened to the locals was awful! Thank goodness they were made whole after the fact. But they were scammed by the person who was found guilty and jailed. That is how the law works. But that is not good enough for you!? YOU think that the people who were supposed to attend Fyre Fest, and got screwed out of their money, don't deserve any sympathy from anyone, because they have more, and you have less, and that's just not fair! From your perspective at least. It would be fine if you also had what they had, and then there wouldn't be an issue, right? Then you would also be mad that your trip to Fyre Fest was a bust, wouldn't you?
And even if I HAD called you a Republican, I am quite sure that you couldn't have even thought of a more egregious word, as Democrats have, of course, the moral high ground! Even if they would actually prefer to enjoy holidays like Fyre Fest (when executed properly that is!)!
@@skontheroad You talk too much!! I Stand by what the fuck I said!! NOT all the vendors were made whole. They catered to the rich for this festival and Those that could afford the fucking loss aint hurting right now! Those who lost wages and time are still suffering to this day! Not everyone got a GoFundMe campaign like the lady with the food.
NOW, Re-read what I wrote and maybe you will understand this time!!
Hope he redeems himself and does something special
Lol
sorry festival ( free festival for single, socially challenged people to connect )
lmao he's doing another Fyre Festival
I don’t see any remorse, or crying or empathy from this guy. A judge Judy quote “ don’t pee on my leg and tell me it’s raining” He knew exactly what he was doing. He was hoping to make triple the amount than the entire cost of the festival. I do believe he was going to pay people but, that’s the only thing I believe from him
This dude is hilarious. 😂
He seems remorseful. Prison must have shocked the shit out of him.
I mean I think a key part of all of this is that its not like he was siphoning funds and walked away from the disaster with a lot of money. All funds were spent on the festival, albeit spent incredibly irresponsibly. But for me at least this fact plays a big role in deciding how malicious his actions were. Seems like someone who was never taught the value of a dollar, never really earned money for himself as a result of hard work and sacrifice, and ultimately truly believed he was special enough to pull it off. Had he done the sensible thing and hired a consultant and had delegated a lot of the tasks to employees who had some clue what to do and a budget then it may have worked out.
...but he KEPT scheming and scamming even AFTER the festival!!!!!
He needs to get to work and pay EVERYONE back. Netflix should make a movie about him /Fyre Festival and he should use that money to pay all of those people he used.
Yeah, yeah and Netflix or Hulu with pay for the rights to his story for a miniseries staying John Mulaney playing him
How is someone who defrauded investors and customers allowed to even try a second time at this?
Great interview
We shall see, but at least he knows what people want to hear. Let's hope solitary made him solidify these changes in thoughts & actions. I hear that shit can change you.
He was in solitary so he would not get his ass kicked in jail. Being in solitary was for his protection. Sissy boys like him get raped and treated as maids in jail.
@@cecarblanco9933 true that
He ate it…… he still has a lot of restitution to pay back.
I bet he has good advisors and someone helping him keep his head on the proper way.
4 years in prison isn’t a walk in the park.
he just launched Fyre 2 festival…😂
Michael Straham is a really sweet/nice guy. Most people would have already choked this clown to death 5 minutes into the interview!
If he was doing this interview simply to apologize... I might believe it . But he's got business to promote.. and A LOT of money to pay back. Wouldn't buy anything this guy is selling. Not even that insincere apology!
Jeez this dude
So if he has to pay $26m in restitution but doesn't have it, what happens?
Hopefully, he disappears...🤐