Celebrity News

Fyre Festival promoter scammed millions because of ‘mental illness’: lawyers

Billy McFarland, the infamous Fyre Festival promoter, scammed millions because of an “untreated mental illness,” his lawyers said in recent court documents.

McFarland, who pleaded guilty in two fraud cases after his 2017 music fest fell apart, is arguing that he deserves leniency when he’s sentenced on Oct. 11 because he suffers from untreated bipolar disorder and “severe alcohol abuse,” his lawyers told a Manhattan federal judge.

“The evidence suggests that Billy has a good heart that has been led astray by poor judgment and by untreated mental illness,” sentencing papers said.

The reps stressed that he is not a sociopath, however, citing the findings of a psychologist hired to evaluate him.

While McFarland faces as many as 14 years for two scams — including one he ran while out on bail for defrauding investors of Fyre Media — his Fyre Festival partner Ja Rule says he’s “not ashamed” of the ill-fated festival.

“Because man, the idea, it was brilliant,” he told Revolt TV podcast “Drink Champs” this week.

“It was f - - king beyond brilliant . . . It was amazing,” the rapper said, while admitting the event “wasn’t done properly. I should’ve not trusted people with certain things.”