 | |
 One of the AI-generated advertisements used for the event, with uncorrected spelling errors and nonsensical words | |
  Box Hub Warehouse | |
| Date | 24 February 2024 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Box Hub Warehouse |
| Location | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 55°52′21″N 4°20′26″W / 55.87250°N 4.34056°W |
| Theme | Charlie and the Chocolate Factory |
| Organised by | House of Illuminati |
| Website | willyschocolateexperience.com |
Willy's Chocolate Experience was an unlicensed event based on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory that took place in Glasgow, Scotland, in February 2024. The event was promoted as an immersive and interactive family experience, illustrated on a promotional website with "dreamlike" AI-generated images.[1][2][3][4] After it was discovered that the event was held in a sparsely decorated warehouse, many customers complained, and the police were called to the venue. The event went viral on the Internet and attracted worldwide media attention.[5]
The event drew comparisons to the 2008 Lapland New Forest controversy, the 2014 Tumblr fan convention DashCon, and Billy McFarland's 2017 Fyre Festival.[6][7][8]
- ^ Mack, David (28 February 2024). "Glasgow's Sad Oompa Loompa Isn't Gonna Sugarcoat This". Vulture. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ Holpuch, Amanda (27 February 2024). "A Few Jelly Beans and a World of Disappointment at Willy Wonka Event". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 28 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ Yang, Angela (28 February 2024). "A Willy Wonka-inspired experience 'scam' was so bad that people called the cops". NBC News. Archived from the original on 28 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ Brooks, Libby (27 February 2024). "Glasgow Willy Wonka experience called a 'farce' as tickets refunded". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 27 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ Watson, Calum; Mckinnon, Morven; Bonar, Megan (1 March 2024). "Willy Wonka experience: How did the viral sensation go so wrong?". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2 March 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ Colbert, Isaiah (27 February 2024). "Willy Wonka Experience Promoted Using Suspected AI Art Was So Bad That Customers Called the Police". IGN. Archived from the original on 27 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ Stenzel, Wesley (27 February 2024). "Chocolate Fyre Festival? Inside the Willy Wonka event that had infuriated guests calling the cops". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 28 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ Cohen, Danielle (28 February 2024). "Welcome to Fyre Fest: Wonka Edition". The Cut. Archived from the original on 28 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.