Chris Rock Rescued by Fan After ‘Walking 6 Miles’ in Muddy Storm at Burning Man Festival

Chris Rock was among thousands of people left stranded at the Burning Man festival in Nevada after torrential rains pounded the desert gathering, creating a muddy mess, and leaving one person dead.

Video posted on social media showed a group of festivalgoers, including Chris Rock and EDM DJ Diplo, riding in the back of a pickup truck to safety.

Diplo shared a video on Instagram with a text overlay explaining what happened.

“A fan offered Chris Rock and I a ride out of Burning Man in the back of a pick up. After walking 6 miles through the mud… all Chris could think about was a f——g cold brew,” the DJ wrote.

Earlier, Rock shared a since-expired Instagram Story describing the hellish conditions at the desert campsite where he was staying.

“From what I understand, because of the flooding, the port-o-potties reportedly can’t be emptied. And because the gates are closed, people can’t get in to fill generators or deliver supplies,” the comedian captioned the post according to SFgate.com.

The festival takes place each year in Black Rock Desert, about 100 miles north of Reno. This year an estimated 70,000 people attended.

Also Read: LA Dodgers React to Viral Video of Stadium Flooded by Tropical Storm Hilary

Rainbow over the Man, 2023 (Photo courtesy: Burning Man/Josh Lease)
Rainbow over the Man, 2023 (Photo courtesy: Burning Man/Josh Lease)

Attendees were caught off guard when a storm dumped heavy rains on the festival grounds, which were already saturated from a previous storm, according to local news reports.

Burning Man posted a message on the festival’s X/Twitter account on Friday (Sept. 1), telling attendees to prepare for the worst because vehicle access to the festival was closed and the local airport had shut down.

“For anyone in BRC, help each other stay safe. The gate and airport in and out of Black Rock City remain closed. Ingress and egress are halted for the time being. Stay prepared for adverse weather conditions continuing through the night and into Saturday,” the post read.

The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office urged attendees to shelter in place.

“Due to recent rainfall, the Bureau of Land Management and the Pershing County Sheriff’s Office officials have closed the entrance to Burning Man for the remainder of the event. Please avoid traveling to the area; you will be turned around. All event access is closed,” sheriff’s officials said in a statement posted on X/Twitter.

The nearby Pershing County Sheriff’s Office said one person died “during this rain event,” although the individual’s name and age were not released, NBC News reported.

Burning Man has been held annually for over 30 years, with a focus on “community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance.” The gathering takes place in a temporary city erected in the desert.

A statement on the festival website Saturday night said organizers were trying to get everyone out by “deploying buses to Gerlach to take people to Reno.”

Although, the statement warned rescue efforts would take time. “This is not likely a 24-hour operation at this time,” the statement read.


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About Anita Bennett

Anita Bennett is the editor and founder of Urban Hollywood 411. She can be reached on Twitter @tvanita.