The AWOL organizer of a wine and music event has unexpectedly materialized, like the cork in a bottle of exquisite champagne. But just to, um, complain.
As reported by Page Six earlier this month, Sean Evans, creator and CEO of the famed touring event Blended Festival, “disappeared” after reportedly accumulating over $6 million in outstanding debt.
The first festival performance took place in Nashville on September 10 and 11, with headliners including Lil Jon and the Chainsmokers.
T.I., G-Eazy, Loud Luxury, and others were scheduled to perform at numerous additional forthcoming events, including gigs in Tampa, Florida, this month.
Until, that is, Evans reportedly left hundreds of employees, vendors, artists, and investors without payment following the Nashville dates.
Page Six has learnt, however, that Evans has now risen to the surface.
On November 14, Evans reappeared in the inboxes of his former workers and contractors asserting, “I have email no way acted fraudulently, nor have I benefitted in any way from the calamity,” he wrote.
The company’s Instagram account, which we’re told was controlled by a third party, had earlier announced the postponement of the event and claimed Evans “had been AWOL since October 1” and “blocked employee emails and left the team with no answers.” However, Evans alleged that people behind the posts were not social media administrators, but rather malicious hackers trying to get him.
Evans asserts that the company’s social media accounts have been compromised.
Facebook/Sean Evans
In an email received by Page Six dated November 14, Evans stated the “social media accounts were and continue to be fraudulently stolen… Apparently a media attempt to portray myself as a fake.”
Then, he accused “one or maybe many individuals” who decided to use their desperation as an excuse to perform potentially illegal crimes against the organization. Unfortunately, their decisions have alienated one of the prospective purchasers who would have contributed finance that would have benefited everyone.”
Recently, Evans was spotted partying in San Diego at the Wonderfront Festival.
We are informed that despite his email, no one from the event has “talked to him at all.”
However, there is a glimmer of hope – at least for possible festival attendees. After the festival canceled its remaining events, Events.com issued an update stating that they would “continue to pursue the event organizer” to collect the monies, but that they would “begin processing full refunds to ticket holders.”
Evans was also recently observed at the Wonderfront Festival in San Diego, California, where he reportedly appeared to have consumed a few wines.
Evans seems to have removed the most of his internet presence, including his LinkedIn page. In addition, he did not reply to our SMS messages.
»Missing Blended Festival CEO alleges accounts were hacked«