Bridgerton fans who spent $300 (₹25,000) for tickets to an event promising an authentic Regency-era experience were left bitterly disappointed after the highly anticipated “Bridgerton Themed Ball” turned out to be a disorganized disaster. The event, organized by Uncle & Me LLC in Detroit, was not affiliated with the popular Netflix series Bridgerton, but still managed to attract eager fans hoping to immerse themselves in the charm of the Regency era.
The ball was marketed as a lavish event where guests could “step into the enchanting world of the Regency-era for an evening of sophistication, grace, and historical charm.” Attendees, who spent hundreds more on elaborate costumes and accessories, were expecting a night filled with dancing, live performances, and a royal atmosphere.
Thread about the Bridgerton Ball SCAM in Detroit that I (and hundreds of others) spent $300 on pic.twitter.com/EUgX482w8j
— Rachel Eaton @ Realta (@rayleearts) September 24, 2024
However, the reality was far from the glamorous image advertised. Guests arrived to find a bare-bones venue with little to no decor, no seating, and minimal food. Photos shared on social media captured attendees sitting on the floor, bored and disappointed as the promised entertainment never materialized.
Initially scheduled for August, the event was rescheduled to September 22 after the organizers claimed the original venue canceled. This was disputed by an employee from the venue, who stated the real reason was the organizers’ failure to pay the full rental amount. To add to the frustration, fans who could not attend the rescheduled date were denied refunds and had their emails go unanswered.
Upon arriving at the Harmonie Club in Detroit, fans were shocked to discover a poorly decorated hall that failed to deliver the “sophistication” and “grace” promised. The advertised “live music” was reduced to a single violinist, and the “play/performance” was nothing but a lone stripper awkwardly performing on a pole in the middle of the dance floor.
“The way it was described, we were going to have classical music, a good dinner, a play, and they were going to crown a ‘Diamond of the Season’,” said Amanda Sue Mathis, one of the attendees. “Instead, it was completely empty. There was a stripper pole in the middle of the dance floor. That was it.”
The event’s food service only added to the disaster. Guests reported that the food served was undercooked and ran out within the first hour. Plates were left uncleared, causing dirty dishes to pile up on the limited tables available.
Social media platforms were soon flooded with negative reviews from attendees, some of whom shared their dismay at the poorly organized event. Fans called out the organizers for misleading them and failing to deliver on their promises, with one attendee tweeting, “I paid $300 for a Bridgerton-themed ball, and all I got was a dirty hall with a stripper pole.”
The failure of the Bridgerton-themed ball serves as a reminder that event organizers must ensure proper planning and deliver what is advertised, especially when charging high ticket prices. Fans who invested their time and money in the event were left disappointed, while the event management company behind it has yet to issue a formal apology or provide refunds to those affected.
The Bridgerton-themed ball in Detroit has left a sour taste in the mouths of attendees, who expected a glamorous night but received a disorganized event that lacked any of the Regency-era charm. Fans have expressed their anger and frustration, and the event serves as a cautionary tale for anyone planning to attend similarly themed experiences in the future.