How did you like the chocolate factory, Charlie? Instead of the most amazing venue in the whole world, angry customers and event participants from this weekend’s failed “Wonka World” experience in Glasgow, Scotland, are angry and demanding refunds.
Today, a cast member took to social media to explain his role in the fiasco and apologize for his role in it. Paul Connell admitted that the attendees wanted Timothée Chalamet and instead got Timothée Charlatan.
Connell said he got the role of Wonka a few days ago and was handed a “nonsense” script and told to “do whatever you want.”
“It was very disappointing to see how many people turned up at this event and found me dressed as Willy Wonka in a half-deserted warehouse,” Connell told BBC Radio’s Good Morning Scotland programme.
The event, dubbed the “Willie’s Chocolate Experience,” promised attendees chocolate fountains, Oompa Loompas performances, and “a celebration of chocolate in all its delightful forms.”
Instead, they got a sparsely decorated warehouse featuring two women in green wigs playing Oompa Loompas, and Connell, whose red hair and beard made him less Willy Wonka and more like an Oompa Loompa.
“My sympathies go out to anyone who bought tickets to this event, people who were expecting a magical chocolate experience and put me in a top hat in a dingy warehouse in Glasgow,” Connell said.
Connell said he and the other actors “were furious.”
“We were also scammed, and it became very scary at some point, because people were angry,” he said. He added that the actors pressed on bravely, but “there was a lot of screaming and groups of people felt very angry.”
Ultimately, the event was closed and the organizers refunded the tickets and apologized for the “extremely stressful and frustrating day.” Watchman mentioned.
The event’s promoters issued a statement of apology.
“Unfortunately, we were let down last minute in many aspects of our event and we tried our best to keep going and move forward, and we now realize that we probably should have canceled first thing this morning instead,” the company statement said.
See Connell’s social media and footage from the event below.