Police were called to this nightmare ‘Wonka’ experience that left children in tears

If you have kids who love “Wonka”—either the Roald Dahl book, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” or any of the movie adaptations—an event that promised “a day filled with laughter, joy, and the irresistible allure of chocolate” would probably be irresistible. But parents in the U.K. who paid £35 (about $45) to attend a “Wonka Experience,” a Willy Wonka-themed event that was described in advertisements as “immersive” and promised to “create lasting memories and redefine what it means to step into a world of pure imagination,” instead found a nightmare so bad that some of them actually called the police.

The event was supposed to feature “whimsical performances,” “surprises at every turn,” and “a celebration of chocolate in all its delightful forms.” But when guests arrived to the location in Glasgow, they found a large warehouse with a few sparsely placed decorations. Photos of the event show how bleak it was, and they’re now going viral because it’s basically a nightmare version of “Wonka.”

Jenny Fogarty, a local actor who has hired to play an Oompa Loompa at “Willy’s Chocolate Experience,” said she received a 15-page script the night before the event, along with an Oompa Loompa costume she described as a “sexy” version of the character, not family-friendly.

Paul Connell, another actor who was hired for the event, said his “heart sank” when he arrived and saw the location and decorations.

“I just felt sad because I was aware of how many kids were going to be coming through,” he told The Guardian.

According to People magazine, when families started arriving, children were crying because of how bad the event was. While ticketholders were told the event would last 45 minutes to an hour, parents told reporters it took them about five minutes to walk through the entire setup. As the crowd became angrier, the event was abruptly canceled, and many of those waiting in line were told they could no longer enter — which is probably for the best.

House of Illuminati, the event company that organized “Willy’s Chocolate Experience,” posted an apology on Facebook, but it’s since been deleted. In the post, the company claimed refunds are being issued to ticketholders, but news outlets have been unable to verify whether that’s true.