Burning Man revelers were mocked for complaining about their “harrowing” escape from the desert festival after it was hit by severe flooding.
Burners have been ridiculed online after complaining that they were “trapped” following rain in Nevada – with 70,000 said to be stranded over the weekend.
Social media users pointed out that it was supposed to be a “post-apocalyptic” event and that they experienced exactly what they expected.
It came as even the president was informed of the disaster, just days after a massive hurricane hit Florida and cleanup efforts continue after wildfires in Hawaii.
One person was killed at the festival on Saturday, but police stressed that it happened during the rainstorm and not because of it.
On Sunday, US President Joe Biden confirmed that he was being briefed on the Burning Man situation and was in contact with local officials
People walk through the mud at Burning Man on Sunday, September 3rd
As the flooding situation at Burning Man continues to escalate, revelers who shared their stories online are being mocked by other social media users
Brenners from France are seen cleaning their shoes and RV as they gather in Gurlach, Nevada
In a tweet, former US Attorney General Neal Katyal described his trip from the Nevada desert, where the annual anti-capitalist festival welcomes thousands
In a tweet, former US Attorney General Neal Katyal described his journey from the desert.
“It was an incredibly harrowing 6-mile hike at midnight through heavy and slippery mud, but I made it out of Burning Man safely,” Katyal wrote, calling it an amazing experience “except for the end.”
Social media users were quick to call out the lawyer who once defended Nestle in a child slavery case for his dramatic portrayal of his exit from the festival.
“I hate being such a girl, but six miles honestly isn’t that far to run. “It may sound far-fetched to people who haven’t done it, but it’s not,” one user wrote in a quote tweet. “And mud or not, I would never describe 90 minutes. go as “shocking”.
Katyal’s tweet was viewed more than 9.2 million times as of Sunday evening.
More than 1,000 people quoted the lawyer’s tweet, many calling his “dramatic” account of the event while others simply denounced Katyal.
“Okay, wait, they can run 6 miles and be outside?” Hahahahahaha, are you really the king? Also “shocking,” shared one Twitter user.
In follow-up tweets, Katyal shared important tips for anyone stuck in the desert and those trying to make their way there on foot amid the chaos of the festival.
Others also mocked those who documented their struggles, with investment banker John LeFevre posting: “No sympathy for the people ‘trapped’ at Burning Man.”
“A bunch of nerds dressing up as post-apocalyptic feudal elites… Don’t like the mud? Walk back the 6 miles…
“And buhuhuu to the ‘influencers’ who can’t meet the sponsored content requirements and have to send the money back.”
“Lol, here’s a rule 2: If there’s only one way in and out of an event with thousands, skip that event. #BurningMan,” wrote comedian Kathleen Madigan.
“When you think you’re going to Burning Man but end up at Fyre Fest.”
“Burning Man heard Billy McFarland was trying to make Fyre Fest 2 so they beat him to it,” another person shared on Twitter.
People wait on Highway 34 for a shuttle bus that will take them to Gerlach and Reno
Many vehicles are stuck and some drivers are racing around slower vehicles to get out quickly before more rain arrives on Sunday and attempt to leave September 3rd
On Sunday, September 3rd, Brenner is seen attempting to escape Black Rock City
Several cars became stuck in the mud as revelers tried to leave the site on Saturday and Sunday
Cars and RVs appeared to be stranded in the mud Sunday
Burners leaving the Black Rock Desert are covered in cement-like mud. Thousands of Burning Man visitors try to leave the Black Rock Desert as quickly as possible
Katyal shared this photo of herself from Burning Man with his Twitter followers
Massive rains have flooded the Nevada desert in recent days, turning dust into clay
A woman leaving Burning Man appears to be hitchhiking to San Francisco in search of a ride
Long queues of cars formed on Saturday and Sunday before it rained again
Hikers were seen walking through the Nevada desert on Sunday
Rains have flooded the Nevada desert in recent days, turning dust into clay. Around 73,000 revelers are trapped until the landscape dries out.
The Pershing County Sheriff’s Office confirmed a single death Saturday. Officials said it occurred “during this rain event” but gave few other details.
“As this death remains under investigation, no further information is available at this time,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement Saturday evening.
The conditions became so bad that celebrities and well-known personalities such as comedian Chris Rock and musician Diplo were able to flee.
In photos posted online, Rock could be seen sitting on the edge of the truck as it rolled along the desert tracks.
He wore a New York Knicks jacket, a black baseball cap and sunglasses and smiled for the camera.
“I just ran 5 miles in the mud from Burning Man with Chris Rock and a fan picked us up,” the Twitter user tweeted, along with a video of the escape online.
Earlier in the day, Rock had posted a video showing how terrible the conditions were around the campsite where he was staying.
In a 10-second clip posted to his Instagram, the muddy landscape could be seen – consisting of mud craters where deep footprints had been left.
In a now-missing story, Rock wrote: “As far as I know, the toilet bowls supposedly can’t be emptied because of the flooding.”
“And because the gates are closed, people can’t get in to fill generators or deliver supplies,” his story said, according to SFgate.com.
Campers’ tents and tents were destroyed by the pouring rain, leaving many people tired, wet and muddy over the weekend.
Despite the chaos, the hedonistic crowds made the best of the situation by organizing slip-and-slides and other unique Burning Man-style activities.
Diplo (left) and Chris Rock (right) found themselves in the middle of the muddy chaos that descended on the Burning Man festival grounds and managed to get out of the chaos on Saturday
Video posted by Rock of a row of parked bikes on the Burning Man site – all completely useless given the muddy conditions
Shai Peza of Chicago frolicks in the mud and water at Burning Man on Saturday
Dirty D from Los Angeles plunges into the mud at Burning Man and prefers to move on all fours
Burners attempt to leave Burning Man after heavy rain Friday evening
LA’s Dirty D adopted a playa name by which he’s been known throughout the week and declined to reveal the name he uses in the “default world.”
“Burning Man” is set on prehistoric Lake Lahontan, a dry lakebed known colloquially as a “playa.” The soil consists of alkaline dust, which usually causes coughing.
But with the rain this year, the saturated dust has created an elaborate game of “stuck in the mud” for scantily clad music lovers.
The final weekend of the hedonistic event ended on Friday evening with icy, muddy conditions, but even leading to celebrities like Chris Rock trying to escape the deluge.
“Don’t travel to Black Rock City!” Burning Man organizers tweeted, referring to the desert area where the alternative festival takes place.
“Access to the city will be closed for the remainder of the event and you will be turned away,” organizers said in a statement on social media.
“The rain over the last 24 hours has created a situation that required a complete halt to vehicle movement on the playa,” they explained.
A clip posted by a festival-goer showed a Jeep half-buried in sinking clay and mud, unable to move at all after becoming trapped in the mud
A Burning Man participant makes his way through the mud in Black Rock City
A Burning Man participant lies down in mud and water at the event
One person was even seen with a boat parked on the site
Thousands of Burning Man goers trudged through muddy mud on Saturday – many barefoot or with plastic bags on their feet – as flooding from storms swept across the Nevada desert.
About six inches of rain is believed to have fallen Friday at the festival site, which is about 110 miles north of Reno, the National Weather Service in Reno said.
Making matters worse, revelers suffered from hypothermia after unprecedented storms destroyed the festival.
Organizers urged festival-goers already on site to “stock up on food, water and fuel and seek shelter in a warm, safe place.”