New ‘It’s Florida Man’ show features wild tale of toe-eating scheme for Bassnectar tickets

A Florida man’s extreme lengths to attend a Bassnectar concert in 2019 included a shocking Craigslist offer: cut off and eat a stranger’s toes in exchange for cash.

In the first episode of It’s Florida, Man, a new show on HBO spotlighting strange but true stories from Florida, viewers are introduced to Phil, a die-hard Bassnectar fan. Desperate to fund his trip from Florida to Colorado for Bassnectar’s 2019 concert series, Phil resorted to Craigslist to find any gig that could cover his travel costs. When a man named Steve replied with a startling proposition, Phil found himself on the brink of one of the most bizarre offers ever: sever three of Steve’s toes, cook them, and eat them—right in front of him.

Phil, played in re-enactments by comedian Sam Richardson, describes how the initial shock gave way to intrigue as he considered Steve’s offer of $4,000. Phil decided to take Steve up on the offer and convinced his friend Carolyn to come along to witness the event. Carolyn, portrayed by Saturday Night Live’s Ego Nwodim, was just as stunned by the unusual request but agreed to accompany him.

At Steve’s house, Phil prepared for the toe removal, but Steve soon backed out. Although initially committed, Steve began expressing doubts, citing concerns about his work as a karate instructor and the potential shock his students might experience if they noticed his missing toes. 

The tense moment ended as the three awkwardly watched TV instead, abandoning the planned toe amputation. Despite backing out, Steve upheld his end of the deal, paying Phil the full amount as compensation.

The episode of It’s Florida Man continued to show that Phil used the money to book his flight to Colorado, eager to attend the much-anticipated Bassnectar shows. However, upon arrival, he was met with disappointing news; the concerts had been canceled due to unforeseen technical issues at the venue.

Reflecting on the unusual chain of events, Phil shared that the experience prompted him to reconsider his priorities. “I almost ate a toe to get here,” he says, expressing relief that he has since taken a step back from these impulsive decisions. Today, Phil is quick to decline any requests from Steve, who occasionally reaches out to “try again.” Phil showed the world what a true Florida Man x Bassnectar fan experience looks like. 

Featured image courtesy Facebook / Bassnectar