SHAH ALAM - Attendees of the ‘Willy's Chocolate Experience’ immersive event in Glasgow, Scotland were left disheartened after paying 40 USD (RM189.02) for entry only to find themselves in a lacklustre setting.
In a TikTok video shared by Brut America, the event drew inspiration from the Wonka franchise but was not officially associated with it, utilising artificial intelligence (AI) to create promotional images that touted a premium attraction experience.
However, upon arrival, parents and children were met with disappointment as they entered a mostly empty warehouse adorned with scattered tapestries and decorations.
Brut America mentioned that one participant described the scene as reminiscent of "something that you would see at a birthday party rather than a big extravaganza."
The event quickly gained notoriety as the 'Fyre Fest' of immersive events, drawing comparisons to the infamous music festival that failed to live up to its promises.
The situation escalated to the point where police were called to the scene, and parents reported that their children were left in tears.
It also stated that an employee of the event revealed that they were told to hand a couple of kids jelly beans and a quarter cup of lemonade at the end, highlighting the stark disparity between expectations and reality.
"In response to the immediate and angry backlash from attendees demanding refunds, the event was shut down midday.
"However, organisers failed to inform later arrivals, some of whom had travelled long distances, resulting in further frustration,” the post said.
Organisers of the event issued an apology for the ‘stressful and frustrating day’.
"They assured attendees that full refunds would be provided, albeit within a timeframe of up to 10 days.
"Many attendees are now also seeking reimbursement for their travel expenses incurred due to the misleading event advertisements.”