Shivangi Sinha
Area 51 has long fascinated conspiracy theorists and UFO enthusiasts. It is believed by many to house evidence of extraterrestrial life and top-secret government experiments. The mystery surrounding it has made it a symbol of hidden truths and alien lore. In 2019, college student Matty Roberts jokingly created a Facebook event titled “Storm Area 51,” which went viral and drew global attention. Though initially humorous, it evolved into a real-life festival. In Netflix’s ‘Trainwreck: Storm Area 51,’ Roberts discusses the chaos, his personal experiences, and how the event ultimately ended peacefully, transforming into an alien-themed gathering instead of a government raid.
Matty Roberts Created the Storm Area 51 Event as a Joke, But it Blew Up
In June 2019, Matty Roberts, a college student from Bakersfield, California, unintentionally became the face of one of the internet’s most eccentric viral movements. After watching a documentary featuring Bob Lazar, a figure closely associated with UFO lore and Area 51 conspiracies, Roberts jokingly created a Facebook event titled “Storm Area 51: They Can’t Stop All of Us.” It was meant as internet humor, but the event quickly spiraled into a sensation and drew the attention of millions worldwide. Though it was clearly satirical in tone, the post lit a spark. Countless people marked themselves as attending, memes poured across social media, and hotels in the remote Nevada desert reported a sudden surge in bookings.
Alarmed by how large the response grew, Roberts made it clear he wasn’t encouraging anyone to actually invade government property. His mother, Malinda Ortega, warned him against the dangers of what was to come, but he felt he was ready to handle it. He clarified that his intention was to inspire laughs, not trespassing and wanted to create an event where people could have a good time. He started working closely with Zeke Spector, a Vice Media Producer, and Disco Donnie, a party organizer. Roberts also spoke to various media houses and gave several interviews about his intention to host the event, which caused so much fervor.
As tension around the event grew, Roberts began organizing a safer alternative, which was a music and arts event dubbed “Alienstock,” to be held in Rachel, Nevada. It was the tiny, isolated town near the famous military base. Soon, concerns arose regarding safety logistics, strained communication with local organizers, and the town’s lack of infrastructure. Roberts fell out with his initial group of people and collaborated with Frank DiMaggio. However, just two weeks away from the event, no arrangements were made. Roberts gave a public interview in which he stated that he withdrew his support. Instead, he helped throw a sanctioned alien-themed party in Las Vegas, which he felt was more controlled and festive. There were people who showed up in Rachel, but it all concluded peacefully.
Matty Roberts Remains Out of the Spotlight Today
Since the conclusion of the viral “Storm Area 51” event in September 2019, Matty Roberts has largely withdrawn from the public eye. After the Las Vegas-based “Alienstock” party, he gave a few interviews but offered no concrete details about his future plans. His involvement in the event later led to legal trouble when Connie West, a motel owner from Rachel, Nevada, sued Hidden Sound LLC and its backers, naming Roberts as one of the parties. The lawsuit was ultimately settled in West’s favor for approximately $3.4 million. Following the chaos, Roberts returned to his hometown of Bakersfield, California, and went back to his job at a vape shop in the Valley Plaza Mall. Despite the media buzz and international attention, he disclosed that he only made about $1,700 from the entire event, mostly through T-shirt sales. Since then, he has maintained an extremely low profile and has avoided public appearances, social media, and interviews.
Read More: Connie West: Where is Little A’Le’Inn Motel Owner Now?
