OREN AKS, the former social media designer for the infamous Fyre Festival, has raised concerns about how social media platforms are perpetuating the idolization of scammers and fraudsters. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Aks highlighted individuals like BILLY MCFARLAND (creator of the Fyre Festival), ANNA DELVEY SOROKIN (the notorious scam artist), and LUIGI MANGIONE (a UnitedHealthcare CEO murder suspect) as prime examples of how society glorifies bad actors.
The interview followed the recent postponement of Fyre Festival 2, a reattempt of the original 2017 event that failed spectacularly. The festival was scheduled to take place in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, from May 30 to June 4 but was delayed just weeks before its launch. Aks, who worked on the original Fyre Festival’s social media strategy while employed at JERRY MEDIA, expressed his concerns about the public’s fascination with such figures.
“We look at them like they’re iconic, asking, ‘What’s she wearing to court?’ At a certain point, you’re more obsessed with the narrative you’ve built around them than who they actually are,” Aks said. “If you met BILLY MCFARLAND, you wouldn’t be impressed.”
Aks emphasized that society, particularly in the U.S., has shifted its focus from celebrating legitimate success stories to glorifying those who engage in deceit and fraud. “We vilify the hardworking and celebrate the scammy, the evil, and the fraudulent. We’ve turned these people into heroes, and it’s a worrying societal shift,” he added.
He also noted that this trend is fueled by the idea that failure on a grand scale is a prerequisite for success. “It’s like a never-ending train wreck that keeps the internet engaged. Why are we glorifying these people as symbols of success? It’s an American story, and it’s deeply concerning,” Aks said.
Reflecting on his experience with the original Fyre Festival, Aks recalled the red flags that were evident before the event’s collapse. “When we arrived, it was clear things were going south. Seeing the makeshift tents and the lack of infrastructure was a wake-up call,” he shared. Despite his role as a graphic designer, Aks realized the logistical nightmare unfolding behind the scenes.
The 2017 Fyre Festival became a viral sensation after documentaries by Hulu and Netflix exposed its failures, turning the event into a cultural phenomenon. In 2021, a settlement was reached, with 277 ticket holders each awarded $7,220.
As for Fyre Festival 2, MCFARLAND recently announced plans to sell the Fyre brand, stating, “We’ve decided the best way to achieve our goals is to sell the Fyre Festival brand, including its trademarks, IP, and cultural capital, to an operator capable of realizing its full potential.”
This story serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of idolizing those who thrive on deception, a trend that continues to grow in the age of social media.
Source: Fox News Digital