Nita Morton showed up to a Bridgerton-themed dance party expecting glitz, glamor and great food.
The event in Detroit, Michigan, on Sunday night invited fans to “enter the glamorous world of the Regency Era” with “sophistication, grace and historical charm.”
So far so good, but what happened next could become a Netflix drama in its own right.
Guests say they found wet noodles, chicken bones, a sad decor, a single violin and a pole dancer.
“I cried,” 25-year-old Nita told the BBC. “It was the worst event I’ve ever been to. My high school concerts were better.”
“Bridgerton food is turkey and ham and big dessert tables with things like macaroons,” she told the BBC.
“But we got noodles drenched in tomato sauce and little chicken wings.”
The blunder has gone viral on social mediawith attendees who paid nearly $200 (£150) for a ticket complaining that it was a “scam”.
Guests wearing luxurious evening dresses say they had to sit on the floor because there were no chairs – and some left early for McDonald’s or Burger King when they ran out of food.
People have been quick to notice similarities to other viral flops, including Fire Festival in the Bahamas And the Willy Wonka experience in Glasgow.
The ball — which is in no way associated with Netflix or production company Shondaland — is organized by Uncle & Me LLC. It did not respond to the BBC’s request for comment, but told local media it was working to address concerns.
The BBC spoke to some of the attendees to hear how high society had become a bitter disappointment.
“The chicken was not cooked properly”
The party’s itinerary, seen by the BBC, included photo opportunities, dance lessons and a fashion show.
People who bought an expensive ticket were also promised dinner and a violinist.
But alarm bells started ringing For guests when they arrived and found no one at the door to welcome them.
kimberly pineda, Who posted the TikTok video Of her experience, she told the BBC: “Anyone could have come in” due to the lack of a check-in process.
She said that the guests were leaving when she arrived, and someone warned her not to enter.
Once inside, she said she encountered “cheap” decorations, and said the hall was completely sparse.
“There were only a few vendors, which I felt sorry for. They were booked out and had no idea what was going on.
“Plates were stacked on top of each other, cups were reused, full plates of food were left behind as well, and someone told me the chicken wasn’t cooked properly and the beans smelled like fish.”
“Nobody expected the pole dance.”
Like Kimberly, Andy Bell found the food and drink options woefully inadequate.
“Appetizers were supposed to be available to all guests. Leftovers from dinner were the promised appetizers.”
Then came entertainment, which for some was the final straw.
“As the night fell, we were shown off by an exotic dancer wearing a pole, who looked like a stripper; we didn’t get our dance lessons on time even though most of us were on the dance floor; and eventually the club music was blown off the stage,” Andy said.
“At that moment, my sister and I left.”
Meanwhile, Kimberly said her jaw “dropped” when the pole dancer’s performance began.
“They promised us a Bridgerton-style musical, but we weren’t expecting a pole dance,” she said.
Other entertainment included a performance by Queen Charlotte, one of the characters in the show.
But another guest, Amanda Sue Mathis, felt like she wasn’t royalty, as she sat in a “cheap outfit” with a background that looked like it was “bought at a dollar store,” with a “fake stuffed dog” sitting on her lap.
Meanwhile, the photographer was only able to airdrop images, Nita says.
This means that people with Android phones have resorted to taking pictures with their phone.
Nita said that while she was a violinist, she had to perform on three floors.
“They shine the spotlight on us.”
In a statement to WXYZ-TV“We understand that not everyone had the experience they were hoping for at our recent event Sunday night at The Harmonie Club, and for that, we sincerely apologize,” Uncle & Me LLC said.
“Our goal was to provide a magical evening, but we realize that organizational challenges affected some guests’ enjoyment.
“We take full responsibility and accountability for these shortcomings.”
The company said it was working to address all concerns raised by guests, adding: “We are reviewing resolution options, which will be announced soon.”
Company website It does not appear to be working, while the event website – which was available until mid-week – is now up It also seems to be downWhich makes fans even more frustrated.
Nita claims the statement was “gaslighting” those present: “We had no contact with the company for several days.”
Andy claims that communication from the organizers was “zero”.
Kimberly says she feels “robbed” of her money and time, after spending $440 on her clothes alone.
Amanda, a superfan who watched Bridgerton six times from start to finish, described it as “a dream come true, until it wasn’t.”
So what’s next?
Recent similar disasters may provide an idea of how things will end.
After the disastrous failure of the Wonka experiment earlier this year in Glasgow, where… Police were called as tempers flared In a nearly empty warehouse, organizers said a full refund would be given to ticket holders.
Meanwhile, Fyre Festival promised a two-week luxury music event in the Bahamas – but Fans arrived to find no musical actsThere is no planning and only disaster relief tents to sleep in.
Just months after being released from prison during the 2017 event, organizer Billy McFarland announced the reboot. The second fire is due to It will be held in April 2025.
If another Bridgerton-themed concert is arranged in the near future, fans in Detroit might coin a line from Anthony Bridgerton himself: “You are the bane of my existence and the object of all my desires.”
Additional reporting by Anna Vaje.
“Freelance entrepreneur. Communicator. Gamer. Explorer. Pop culture practitioner.”
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