News·2 min read

Why The Revolve Festival Is Being Called Fyre Fest 2.0

People at the 2022 Revolve Festival
Getty Images
April 18, 2022

Ain't no party like a West Coast party, right? That’s not the tune many influencers on TikTok are singing. On April 16 and 17, the Revolve Festival (yes, as in the fashion retailer) returned after a pandemic-related hiatus. The event is pitched to social media influencers with hundreds of thousands of followers. It’s dubbed the “hottest party in the desert.” And promised things like free clothes, the best Insta backgrounds, celeb guests, and musical acts.

But many who tried to attend are taking to social media to say the fest fell short. And are comparing it to the infamous Fyre Festival. Here's why people are drawing parallels. And why others are asking: is it deserved?

‘Absolute Chaos’

Joseph Kapsch of Los Angeles Magazine tweeted about the drama. Saying that sources told the mag that influencers were “stranded in the dirt with no water, under the hot sun for hours, waiting for buses” to bring them to the festival grounds. Adding that there were lots of “alleged fights, screaming” and everyone was “dizzy.” Influencers were reportedly yelling about how “important they were and why they deserved the first seat” on the bus. And the police were called. 

Influencer Averie Bishop posted on TikTok about the ordeal, calling it “absolute chaos.” And described how people were “pushing, shoving, shouting, yanking people in front of the buses, people standing in between the buses — while they were moving — just to get on…and get to the Revolve Festival.” Bishop called on Revolve to put security top of mind next year.

Content Creator Kristi Howard said she waited hours at a random location for a bus to take her to the festival grounds, but didn’t make it. And reportedly said "I flew out here thinking I had this big opportunity for my career, I thought it would be really cool to network and meet my internet friends in real life, and it wasn't like that at all.” 

Two Sides To The Story…

Not everyone went through the negative experiences we just mentioned. People who actually made it to the festival seemed to be having a very good time…according to what they posted on social media. TikToker @heavenmarleyy posted a video from the Revolve Festival, captioning it “So so so fun, it makes me sad people are bashing Revolve Fest.” And other videos are reminding people that the Fyre Festival was an actual scam. Revolve has not responded to the criticism. 

theSkimm

The Revolve Festival may not have been what some influencers expected. But it also doesn’t appear to be like the Fyre Festival. Since there was an actual event and no FEMA-like tents in sight. But like most things we see on social media — not everything lives up to the hype.

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