Rapper Ja Rule says he was also conned in Fyre Festival debacle

US rapper Ja Rule has painted himself as a victim of the disastrous Fyre Festival, saying he too was “scammed” as two new documentaries shed more light on the debacle.

Fyre Festival co-founder and rapper Ja Rule has criticised two new documentaries chronicling the creation and downfall of the ill-fated event.

Taking to twitter the musician, who helped come up with the idea said, “I had an amazing vision to create a festival like NO OTHER!!! I would NEVER SCAM or FRAUD anyone, what sense does that make???”

Rapper Ja Rule lashed out on twitter after two documentaries about Fyre Festival were released. Picture: Supplied

In a series of angry tweets, Ja Rule painted himself as a victim of Fyre Festival, saying he lost “plenty” of money and denied anything to do with defrauding people.

“I too was hustled, scammed, bamboozled, hood winked, lead astray!!!” he added.

The documentaries on the debacle include Hulu’s Fyre Fraud and Netflix’s Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened.

I NEVER MADE OR GOT PAID ONE DOLLAR FROM FYRE... BUT EVERYONE ELSE DID!!! https://t.co/35fwx5iuvF

— Ja Rule (@Ruleyork) January 20, 2019

Ja Rule claimed chief organiser Billy McFarland and social media manager Elliot Tebele were paid by Netflix and Hulu for helping to make films about their failure.

McFarland was sentenced to six years in prison last year for making false statements to investors and sharing fraudulent documents.

Because Billy was involved with BOTH he was trying to get them to pay him and Hulu bit... I heard they paid him somewhere btw 100 to 250... that money was supposed to go to the locals by LAW... https://t.co/f9g1kg8Z99

— Ja Rule (@Ruleyork) January 20, 2019

The event which was scheduled to be held over two weekends in April and May 2017, on the Bahamian island of Great Exuma was painted as a luxury music festival and was promoted on Instagram by social media influencers including, model Kendall Jenner and actress Emily Ratajkowski.

But instead of luxury villas and gourmet meals, guests arrived on the island to find tents and pre-packaged sandwiches.

The festival was eventually indefinitely postponed on the inaugural weekend.

Fyre Festival attendees arrive at their tents on the Bahamian island of Great Exuma. Picture: Netflix

Ja Rule also apologised to business owners who had been left out of pocket by the festival.

Maryann Rolle, a Bahamian restaurant owner spent $A70,000 of her own money to pay staff making 1000 meals a day.

“My heart goes out to this lovely lady... MaryAnne [sic] Rolle we’ve never met but I’m devastated that something that was meant to be amazing, turn out to be such a disaster and hurt so many,” he said.

People arrive for Fyre Festival in the Bahamas. Picture: Netflix

A GoFundMe account created to help Ms Rolle after the documentaries aired has already raised almost $A190,000.

Ja Rule is reportedly still facing dozens of lawsuits brought by guests and businesses following the festival but has escaped criminal charges.

Originally published as Rapper Ja Rule says he was also conned in Fyre Festival debacle