Furious attendees of the 'Fyre Festival of NYC food events' say they shelled out $75 for cold pizza - and now a state inquiry has begun
Prior to what Gothamist has now dubbed "the Fyre Festival of NYC food events," attendees were promised a "day long celebration of the dough, cheese, tasty sauces and delicious toppings."
Instead, those who attended the New York Pizza Festival say they were treated to tiny portion sizes, cold pies, and not nearly enough food to justify the ticket price. They say they also waited an hour to actually get into the parking lot where it was being held.
One person on Facebook described the pizza slices as "smaller than sample size."
The event was supposed to take place over two sessions: one at 3 p.m. and the other at 7 p.m.
The event invite doesn't mention any specific pizza vendors in its description:
The reality was a lot more disorganized than advertised, according to photos posted by attendees. Many people have compared the pizza event to the disastrous Fyre Festival, a weekend that was supposed to be packed with luxury and music performances on Great Exuma in the Bahamas, but that ultimately collapsed before it began.
Entrance started at about $40 for general admission and topped out at $75 for VIP tickets, which also included perks like beer and permission to skip the line.
Attendees created a Facebook group called "Pizza Festival Scam Victims," where attendees commiserated about their experience. "This was a rotten scam," one post reads. "People who arrived early said there were about 5 pies cut into micro slices of really bad pizza."
On Facebook, Aputumpu, the group that organized the event, promised a makeup tasting for an undisclosed date. The group had also planned a "Hamburger Festival" for the exact same time and place, but attendees report that no burgers were on hand.
When Business Insider reached out to Aputumpu for comment, we received an automated response: "Untimely delivery of food delayed the fun experiences we all looked forward to this past weekend. A make-up tasting will be announced shortly. Thanks for your patience. Team Pizza Fest!"
The New York Attorney General's office has said they are "concerned about the online complaints." According to Gothamist, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has opened an inquiry into the festival and its alleged organizer, Ishmael Osekre.