I co-founded Burning Man. The festival has lost its soul

Burning Man, an event that began as a radical, equal collaboration, has transformed into a lavish, money-driven spectacle. Unable to resist the spotlight, the original co-founder is frequently pursued by media and intrigued by his role in creating the festival 36 years ago. Despite his absence since 1996, he remains retained in the discourse surrounding Burning Man.

The festival's evolution has led to a sense of disappointment for the co-founder, who observes a stark difference between the original anarchist ethos and the contemporary commercialized version.