Diplo once again walks miles to escape Burning Man

The Burning Man event in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert is known for its inhospitable conditions. Even small amounts of rain can turn the playa into a muddy mess and, in some cases, lead the entire makeshift city of 70,000 people to shut down, which most notably happened in 2023. 

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In 2023, one of the most viral moments came as Chris Rock and Diplo, a notable DJ and a member of the group Major Lazer, walked miles through the mud until they were saved by a group of strangers with a pickup. This year, Diplo was back on the playa, playing a Major Lazer set at Robot Heart at sunset. His Instagram showed him partying until around 6:30 in the morning. By midmorning, however, it seemed he decided it was time to make his way back out of the festival.

Over the past 24 hours, the playa saw 0.22 inches of rain, which, although not enough to cause a panic similar to 2023, still made for conditions harsh enough to have Diplo heading for the exit.

“Here I am, walking out of Burning Man again … six miles in, we’re almost to the road … It’s f—ked up, but I love it. Life presents many challenges, you’ve just got to persevere,” he said on his Instagram stories. 

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Diplo will be missing out on two of the event’s most notable traditions: the ceremonial burning of the Man structure on Sept. 5 and the temple on Sept 6. The event ends on Sept. 7, with thousands of attendees braving a long exit line to head back to the “default world.”