Netflix’s Bridgerton took the US by storm however an experience event in Detroit certainly left a lot to be desired.
The UK was hit with a disastrous Willy Wonka experience and naturally, an equally as pitiful experience has now come to the US in the form of a an experience aiming to replicate a ball like those in Netflix’s Bridgerton and it hasn’t taken long for attendees to speak out.
The ‘Bridgerton’ experience was held at the The Harmonie Club in Detroit, Michigan on Sunday (September 22).
The advert for the event, quoted by the BBC off of Uncle and Me LLC’s since-deleted website states: “Step into the enchanting world of the Regency era at the Detroit Bridgerton-themed ball.
“Join us for an evening of sophistication, grace, and historical charm. Experience a night like no other filled with music, dance, and exquisite costumes.”
Images of tickets shared online show them starting at around $150 however, some attendees are reported by The Evening Standard as having spent up to $1,000 on a ticket to the event.
Alas, much like Cinderella’s carriage turned back into a pumpkin and the chauffeurs into rats, the Bridgerton experience didn’t turn out to be quite as magical in reality, attendees flocking to social media to complain.
A TikToker called Nita took to her page soon after leaving the event to brand it a ‘scam’.
She claims the event date was already rescheduled just three days before it was originally meant to take place and no refund options were offered.
Once at the event, Nita hoped the other two floors would be better than the first but continued: “And as I started to get up the stairs, I was like, ‘We’re not watching the same Bridgerton show’.”
On the second floor, Nita says ‘every single backdrop literally looked like it came from party city’ or ‘Dollar General’.
She claimed people were ‘so bored’ they ended up sat on the floor on their phones and that the person playing Queen Charlotte didn’t even ‘let [her] get her bow in’ before thrusting her a business card.
Add in a fake grass wall, one solo violinist as ‘the only person playing live music’ on all three floors and ‘a prom send off set-up’ and well, the real Queen Charlotte would’ve been mortified.
While Nita had ‘no shade’ to the people who stepped in to help serve the food, she noted how they weren’t in costume and how there were half-empty plates left everywhere.
A Twitter user named Rachel Eaton added: “Food apparently ran out after an hour, and some was raw. No one was there to pick up plates, so you had to deal with strangers’ leftovers yourself.”
Nita accuses the event organisers of ‘low key scamming’ everyone, noting some people flew in for the experience and renting cars and hotels along the way.
“Y’all know what you did and I cannot stress enough this was a scam.”
Rachel resolved: “Besides the lacklustre event itself, they promised a cash prize to the best dressed (didn’t happen), that they’d choose a diamond of the season like they do in the show/other Bridgerton inspired balls (didn’t happen), and had an itinerary with contradicting information.
“Really hope this ends in a lawsuit because I want my $300 back I have medical bills to pay and that could’ve gone toward something that wasn’t….this LMAO. Before y’all call me gullible, I know I am. Still not my fault! Don’t scam people!”
A spokesperson for Uncle & Me LLC told WXYZ: “We understand that not everyone had the experience they hoped for at our most recent event Sunday night at The Harmonie Club, and for that, we sincerely apologise.
“Our intention was to provide a magical evening, but we recognise that organisational challenges affected the enjoyment of some guests. We take full responsibility and accountability for these shortcomings.
“Please know that we are working diligently to address all concerns to ensure that all guests have the enjoyable experience they deserve […] we are committed to doing everything in our power to make this right.”
