Roots Picnic Slammed as “Philly Fyre Pageant” After Chaotic Day One Leaves Followers Soaked, Stranded and Pissed off
The Roots Picnic—Philadelphia’s annual celebration of music, Black tradition and Hip-Hop royalty—hit a severe bitter be aware on its opening day, prompting comparisons to the disastrous Fyre Pageant and leaving even longtime supporters scratching their heads.
Saturday’s (Could 31) portion of the two-day occasion, now in its 18th 12 months, was slammed by many as disorganized, underprepared and downright harmful following hours-long entry traces, muddy chaos and an entire lack of exit course—points that spiraled after a predicted downpour drenched the Mann Middle grounds. Regardless of climate warnings all week, organizers appeared unprepared for what would unfold.
“We have been in line from 12 pm to 4:35 pm, with no clarification on to why the delay,” shared one attendee, a journalist who acquired common admission tickets on the final minute. “The VIP line was approach worse they usually spent hundreds. Just like the article stated, it wasn’t mom nature responsible as a result of rain has been within the forecast all week…we solely stayed an hour.”
They added a surreal and harmful element: “No one—and I imply no one—knew methods to get outta that place. Even the police had no clue. We needed to stroll and seek for virtually an hour to seek out an emergency exit.”
The frustration wasn’t remoted. The Root labeled the occasion a “Philly Fyre Pageant,” evaluating Saturday’s mayhem to the notorious luxurious music pageant rip-off within the Bahamas. By the best way, they’re again, too. Regardless of the biting nickname, many attendees echoed the sentiment, together with a seasoned festival-goer who admitted, “It was unreal… their festivals are at all times on level, however this incident was unprecedented and shouldn’t have occurred the best way it went down.”
READ ALSO: Fyre Pageant Organizers Again Already After Newest Flop
Questlove, drummer and co-founder of The Roots, addressed the uproar on Instagram, acknowledging the mess whereas providing context.
“I do know immediately wasn’t ‘supreme’ for The Roots Picnic on this 18th 12 months of 2025. (This 12 months has been notably difficult to say the least),” he wrote. “Reworking the Mann Middle into our occasion takes about two weeks, however as lots of you skilled, heavy rain from Could thirtieth into the morning of the thirty first brought about vital harm (midnight to 7am). We practically canceled The Picnic as a result of circumstances have been unsafe for everybody concerned.”
Thankfully, the storm clouds parted by Sunday (June 1). The second day of the pageant, headlined by Lenny Kravitz and bolstered by a shock Clipse reunion that includes Pusha T and Malice, ran easily and reignited the pageant’s magic. “Sunday was 1000% higher,” one attendee confirmed. “Every part was dry, there have been no traces, and all the things went on as deliberate.”
The Roots, beloved for his or her authenticity and creative excellence, have constructed a group and a cultural establishment with their annual picnic. However this 12 months’s missteps, notably on Day 1, have some questioning whether or not VIP pricing and fan belief took an excessive amount of of successful to go unchecked.
Nonetheless, many are providing grace—trusting that the legendary crew will return subsequent 12 months with classes realized and a tighter plan.
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