A man known online as “Acid Farts” was banned from the Las Vegas Sphere after he posted video of himself hitting a bong at a Phish concert, but an apparent administrative mistake has led to him being unbanned.
Instagram user @acid_farts originally posted the video on April 20 during Phish’s concert series at the Las Vegas Sphere.
“First bong hit to ever be ripped in the @spherevegas,” the post’s caption read. “@phish somebody call [the Guinness Book of World Records].”
Several people could be heard chanting “USA” and cheering for Mr. Farts, who was described by Variety as a “boastful bong dude.”
Instagram user @acid_farts originally posted the video on April 20 during Phish’s concert series at the Las Vegas Sphere. 
Instagram user @acid_farts originally posted the video on April 20 during Phish’s concert series at the Las Vegas Sphere. 
Instagram user @acid_farts originally posted the video on April 20 during Phish’s concert series at the Las Vegas Sphere.
The video eventually found its way towards Madison Square Garden Entertainment – which owns the Las Vegas Sphere, among other venues – who sent the bong-hitting Phish fan a letter banning him from all MSG Entertainment venues, including Radio City Music Hall, The Chicago Theatre and the eponymous Madison Square Garden.
“You knowingly violated the guest code of conduct by visibly smoking inside the venue,” the letter from an MSG Entertainment lawyer stated. “Sphere Entertainment Company will not tolerate actions that threaten the safety and security of our guests and employees…in light of your conduct, you are hereby indefinitely banned from [all MSG venues and] you are not to enter into or remain in any of the MSG venues at any time in the future.”
In response to being banned, Acid Farts started his own charity T-shirt brand; the first release is a shirt that says “Free Acid Farts” with the words “No regrets” spelled out in smoke.
All proceeds from the shirt sales are being donated to Phish frontman Trey Anastasio’s Divided Sky Foundation, according to an Instagram post by Acid Farts.
However, everything changed on Saturday when a spokesperson for the Las Vegas Sphere confirmed that the letter signaling Acid Farts’ indefinite ban was sent out inadvertently and that the ban was no longer in effect.
“There was a breakdown in our process due to a change in personnel which resulted in the letter being sent inadvertently,” the spokesperson said. “This customer is not banned from our properties, however, it is still against our policies, which are in accordance with local laws, to smoke, bring glassware into our venues and disrupt other fans’ enjoyment of the event.”
Acid Farts has not been formally identified, and his claim of the “first bong hit” at the Sphere has not been verified as it is not known if anyone hit a bong during any of U2’s performances during their residency at the Sphere from September 2023 to March 2024.
KTLA entertainment reporter Doug Kolk contributed to this story.
