When the gullibles are taken for a ride

FELLOW South Africans: Do you remember when there was a big announcement about a certain Tribe One Festival? How that fest was going to be a first of its kind? How A-List international musicians were going to be in the mix?

If it looks like a scam and smells like a scam… Luckily that festival didn’t happen.

In another part of the world, though, something similar did. Last year it was announced that a concept event called Fyre Festival would take place in the Bahamas.

With tickets selling for thousands of dollars, it was meant to rival the likes of Coachella.

We were all surprised when rapper and ex-convict Ja Rule was shown to be the brains behind this Fyre Festival.

Excited millennials got on flights to the Bahamas but when they got to the Fyre Festival, they were fed sloppy cheese sandwiches. People got sick. Others fainted. It was Lord of the

Flies for the digital age because we saw it all through social media. What the hell happened? Now there are two documentaries that attempt to shed light on that. Fyre: The Greatest Party That

Never Happened is available on Netflix. Then there is a Hulu documentary called Fyre Fraud.

The latter allows festival organiser (and serial shady boots) Billy McFarland, to answer some hard questions. Of course, he attempts to wiggle out of most.

This documentary also puts influencer agency Jerry Media (of

F***Jerry fame) in some hot water. The Netflix doccie doesn’t allow Billy or Ja Rule to speak for themselves, but they are often shown acting the damn fool.

Ultimately, both show just what can happen when gullible people are taken for a ride.

More importantly, it shows how desperation for jobs always leaves the poorest desolate. The vendors in the Bahamas still haven’t been paid for this major mess.