According to a report by the BBC, police were summoned to a Willy Wonka-themed event in Glasgow, Scotland, as disgruntled attendees demanded refunds.
The event, titled Willy’s Chocolate Experience, was organized by the House of Illuminati, an organization known for its elaborate and immersive events blending art, technology, and storytelling. Promoted as a journey filled with wonderous creations and enchanting surprises, the experience fell short of expectations.
Despite its promising description, attendees were left disappointed by what was essentially a brief walk-through featuring minimal attractions such as a single bouncy castle and scattered cafeteria tables in an abandoned warehouse. Priced at £35 (approximately $45) for a weekend-long event, visitors expected a 45-minute to an hour immersive experience but were met with a mere five-minute walk-through.
Suspected to have used mock AI images in its promotional material, the event faced backlash from attendees, prompting the House of Illuminati to cancel the event midway through its opening day. This led to frustrated attendees contacting the police and demanding full refunds for the subpar experience.
Eva Stewart expressed her disappointment with the Willy Wonka event, originally advertised as a grand experience with optical illusions, chocolate fountains, and sweets. However, upon arrival, attendees were greeted by what seemed like an abandoned warehouse, lacking the promised attractions.
In response to the letdown, a group of frustrated attendees formed the public Facebook group ‘House of Illuminati Scams’ to share their experiences. Attendees recounted traveling long distances for the event, enduring lengthy queues, and warned others to steer clear of the event’s organizers. The group also served as a platform for updates on refund processes.
Lauren Lawson described the experience as ‘shocking’ and criticized the stark contrast between the advertised event and the reality. Concerns over wasted time and money were echoed by other members, with Graham Wilson expressing disbelief at the cancellation of a children’s event, stating, ‘Some folk have zero morals.’
In a lighter tone, Sandra Mceachran humorously suggested a tribute to Roald Dahl by changing profile pictures to ‘oompa loompa’ images in response to the disappointing event. The sentiment on the page reflects a mix of frustration, disappointment, and a touch of humour amid the aftermath of the Willy Wonka event.
Some actors hired for the Willy Wonka event claim they were deceived into performing and have yet to receive payment.
Cara Lewis, a participant in the House of Illuminati scam group, shared her experience, revealing that actors were given minimal time to learn their roles and were instructed to improvise on the day of the event. Lewis speculated that the scripted elements were fabricated, linking a PDF of the supposed script and suggesting it might have been AI-generated.
Despite the event’s overall disappointment, Shiona Morrison, an early attendee, acknowledged the presence of a Willy Wonka performer for children. However, Morrison noted that the performer was inaudible due to the lack of a microphone, despite numerous speakers scattered throughout the event.
In a statement on their Facebook page today, House of Illuminati informed attendees that full refunds are still in the process of being issued, attempting to address the ongoing concerns surrounding the event.
What are your thoughts on this unfolding situation surrounding the Willy Wonka event? Do you believe the actors were misled and left unpaid? Are you surprised by the speculated use of AI-generated scripts? We want to hear from you. Share your opinions and experiences in the comments below.
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