‘Preying on vulnerability’: Aussie DJs Flight Facilities accused of drug-shaming ‘gurning’ fans

A popular Aussie group has been accused of “preying on people’s vulnerability” after a sharing a viral video of fans in the crowd.

Popular Aussie electronic music group Flight Facilities has been accused of “preying on people’s vulnerability” after sharing a viral video of fans “gurning” in the crowd.

Gurning, an old British word similar to grimacing, refers to the involuntary facial expressions people make when affected by MDMA, including grinding their teeth or rolling their eyes back in their head.

Flight Facilities has shared several videos to social media of apparently drug-affected fans at recent shows, including a TikTok post last week titled “iconic duo”.

Flight Facilities at the Beyond the Valley Festival. Picture: Martin Philbey

The clip, which appears to have since been removed from Flight Facilities’ page, racked up millions of views and showed “two people in their crowd gurning at their event”, according to TikTok creator AnneArchery.

Anne said she was shocked that it had been posted by the group’s own account.

“I was shook,” Anne said in a viral video over the weekend.

The creator said sharing the clip was a ‘big no-no’. Picture: TikTok

“I was actually disgusted that artists are using the safe space of a rave which they go on about, you know, rave culture, ‘PLUR’ [Peace Love Unity Respect], everyone having a good time, everyone respecting each other, but then not respecting people in the crowd.”

Anne said it was a “big no-no”.

“The level of disrespect that you would have to have for your fanbase to do that,” she said. “Maybe the people in the crowd don’t care. But now it’s like, would I go to a Flight Facilities event? Probably not. And if I did go I definitely wouldn’t be having a good time because I would be f**king wigging out the whole time.”

Anne said she was not condoning the use of drugs but people “should be able to do what they want”. “You’re preying on people’s vulnerability,” she said.

“Like you know exactly what the environment is, you’re aware of the culture, it’s been this culture for decades. So nobody can come out now and be like, ‘Oh they should take responsibility for doing what they do.’”

She continued: “I don’t think anybody goes out about their day or about an event, anything they’re doing in their life, with the idea of somebody is going to be zooming in on my face without me being aware and then posting it up for millions of people to laugh at me. Nobody’s going about their day like that and they shouldn’t have to.”

Flight Facilities play at LIV Golf at Grange Golf Club. Picture: Brett Hartwig

The video in question has since been taken down, but an earlier clip posted in September from a show in London remains on the group’s page.

It shows a young man wearing an ushanka hat leaning over the railing, lost in a trance gazing at the stage before being roused by a security guard.

“Love for the first time,” the video was captioned.

“This is cooked why would you do this to the guy,” one person replied.

“I hate that people aren’t allowed to go out without suddenly being viral, leave him alone,” another said.

Other commenters simply found the video amusing.

“Don’t want him if he doesn’t look at me like this,” one joked.

“Boy’s living his best life,” another wrote.

Prominent figures of the UK party scene also criticised the video.

George Fleming, a live music industry advocate for Save Our Scene UK, told the digital news publication The News Movement, “Using someone’s vulnerability for viral content is deeply unethical, irresponsible, and potentially very harmful.

“This isn’t about likes, it’s about respect and responsibility.,” he added,

Similarly, Night Time Industries Association CEO Michael Lill said dance raves in particular, are “spaces for freedom and self-expression.”

“... Non-consensual filming can undermine that,” he said, adding that “no-filming zones” should be introduced at such events.

Flight Facilities has been contacted for comment.

The group was founded by Sydney-based DJ duo Hugo Gruzman and James Lyell in 2009 and went on to release several breakout hits including ‘Crave You’ and ‘Clair de Lune’.

Originally published as ‘Preying on vulnerability’: Aussie DJs Flight Facilities accused of drug-shaming ‘gurning’ fans