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The Internet Steps Up Big For Fyre Fest Caterer Who Paid Staff Using $50,000 Of Her Own Savings
The most sympathetic figures in the new, competing Fyre Festival documentaries from Hulu and Netflix are the teams of Bahamian workers who worked tirelessly to try and make the event a success, only to be left high and dry with no pay by the festival's organizers. One such woman was Maryann Rolle, the owner of Exuma Point Resort, who was hired to cater the event.
In an emotional interview in the Netflix documentary, Rolle revealed she was never paid for any of her labor.
It turns out Rolle had to wipe out her savings, spending around $50k of her own money just so she could pay her staff, who were working around the clock.
Rolle wrote online:
"It has been an unforgettable experience catering to the organizers of Fyre Festival. Back in April 2017 I pushed myself to the limit catering no less than a 1000 meals per day. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were all prepared and delivered by Exuma Point to Coco Plum Beach and Roker's Point where the main events were scheduled to take place. Organizers would also visit my Exuma Point location to enjoy the prepared meals.
Fyre Fest organizers were also checked into all the rooms at Exuma Point Resort.
As I make this plea it's hard to believe and embarrassing to admit that I was not paid…I was left in a big hole! My life was changed forever, and my credit was ruined by Fyre Fest.
My only resource today is to appeal for help.
There is an old saying that goes "bad publicity is better than no publicity" and I pray that whoever reads this plea is able to assist.
Thank you,
Elvis and Maryann Rolle
Exuma Point Resort
Great Exuma, Bahamas"
To help recoup some of the expenses from the disastrous weekend, Rolle started a GoFundMe. Gabrielle Bluestone, a producer of the Netflix documentary, quickly confirmed the GoFundMe was legitimate and spread the word to fans everywhere!
Fans rallied behind Rolle!
Before long, the GoFundMe had met Rolle's goal of $123k and then some!
Some Twitter users wondered if there were similar funds set up for the Fyre Festivals day laborers who were never paid:
Many of the documentary's central figures seem to be working on that very issue:
Two of the largest donors to Rolle's campaign were F*** Jerry and one of its owners, Elliot Tebele. The ad agency was responsible for both advertising the festival and for producing the documentary about its subsequent failure.
It seems the F*** Jerry team may be looking to make amends and stay ahead of the narrative, started by the Hulu documentary, that they were complicit in the manipulation of Fyre Festival attendees and workers.
Regardless, people are happy to see Rolle will get the money she was owed!
Meanwhile, the festival's organizers continues to face a massive lawsuit, while Billy McFarland, the festival's head honcho, is serving jail time for financial fraud.
What goes around comes around!