Detroit, MI
Detroit ‘Bridgerton Ball’ turns out to be Willy Wonka, Fyre Festival-style ‘scam’ — with strippers and Kit Kat bars
Dearest gentle readers, these belles of the ball were scammed, bamboozled, hoodwinked and lead astray.
A “Bridgerton Ball” held in Detroit, Michigan, tuned out to be a disaster, with many comparing the fiasco to Fyre Festival and the Willy Wonka Experience fail.
The Regency Era Dance was described as a chance for fans to “step into the enchanting world of the Regency era…for an evening of sophistication, grace, and historical charm…filled with music, dance, and exquisite costumes.”
Tickets to the event were anywhere from $150-$1,000 depending on experience packages and photo opportunities, according to local outlet WBCK.
But the reality of the event — which took place on Sunday, Sept. 22 at The Harmonie Club — was a disorganized debacle with attendees resorting to sitting on the floor eating Kit Kats sold by vendors and watching a stripper for the night’s entertainment.
WBCK reported that things started to get suspicious when the event, hosted by Uncle N Me LLC, got postponed to Sept. 22 just three days before the original date, Aug. 25.
The event website also raised some eyebrows. It’s a simple two-page website: One page with basic contact information and short paragraph about the event, and another page with slightly more detail on the event, though exactly what would be offered to guests was unclear.
“Come enjoy our Bridgerton Themed ball with prizes, giveaways and more. You’ll also get the chance to win the ‘Diamond of The Season.’ Suitors in attendance will have a chance to win $2,000 cash for best dressed,” the description read.
But attendees shared online that the event was nothing like they expected — and didn’t even live up to the “Bridgerton” theme.
One took to TikTok to share with her followers the experience as she “found out she got scammed,” sharing that many people were already leaving not even an hour into the event and there was no security, no check in and no organizers present.
She added that there was no food, no drinks, not enough chairs or tables, no performers, and instead of the “instrumental performance” the guests were allegedly promised, the event organizers hired a stripper to perform. Attendees also alleged that the chicken being served was raw and cups were being reused.
The creator added in the comments that they “were also promised alcoholic drinks and drinks period and got NONE. they had a mini bar set up that was SELLING Kool aid… keep in mind cheapest tickets were $100.”
Other attendees in the comments section shared they had similar experiences, and one person wrote that they drove in for the event from Kentucky while another shared that they brought their grandfather with them.
Another person shared their experience on Reddit, detailing how disorganized the event was.
“No one asked for our tickets so we just walked in. All attendees looked absolutely decked out but there was zero direction. We essentially followed the crowd to the third floor where we saw LOCAL FREAKING VENDORS selling goods like we were at a local festival. Look I love Japanese KitKats just like the next person but not at a Bridgerton Ball. I saw a guy walk by with a sparkling beverage and say, ‘no alcohol.’ After seeing people sitting on the floor in disappointment, my wife and I left. Luckily we met some other disappointed patrons in the elevator and went to The Candy Bar where we all had a much better time,” the comment said.
Another attendee told local ABC affiliate WXYZ that the event was described as a “Bridgerton evening” with classical music, “good dinner,” a play and a “Diamond of the season.”
“It’s heartbreaking,” she said.
Event organizer Uncle N Me LLC on Tuesday released a statement to WXYZ saying: “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 apologize.”
“Our intention was to provide a magical evening, but we recognize that organizational 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.”
Detroit Lions fall to Green Bay Packers: Breaking down Thanksgiving L
Detroit Lions fall to Green Bay Packers: Shawn Windsor and Jeff Seidel break down Thanksgiving loss at Ford Field on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025.
The hole and the wink aren’t related. Not really.
Well, maybe.
OK, they are.
Just not how you think. And not how you want.
There is cause-and-effect. There is coincidence.
What happened at Ford Field on Thursday, Nov. 27, when the Green Bay Packers benefited from the officials’ mistake – or two – also exposed the Detroit Lions.
Again.
The Lions haven’t been good enough this season – in the trenches, on the margins – and it’s jarring, as reality so often is.
On Thursday, they couldn’t pressure the quarterback, they couldn’t protect their own quarterback when they absolutely needed to. They couldn’t convert on third-and-short or fourth-and-short, and Green Bay could – and did.
The difference in the game, said the man who winked – Packers coach Matt LaFleur. The difference in the game, said the man who mentioned the “hole” – Lions coach Dan Campbell.
As in: “We are in a little bit of a hole. That’s just what it is,” Campbell said after his team’s 31-24 loss. “There’s nothing more than that. All we got to do is worry about cleaning up this and then getting to the next game and finding a way to win the next one.”
The next one is, of course, against the Dallas Cowboys. Right back at Ford Field. Also a Thursday game (on Dec. 4). This time at night. Another must-win.
Though there are must-wins and there are must-wins. The Lions aren’t at the latter just yet. Too many games left. Too many possibilities.
The season isn’t finished, even if it feels like it will be soon. Then again, that feeling is also a way to cope, to deal with unmet expectations, to deal with being in “a hole,” to say: It’s over … and move on to college hoops or hockey, or even the Pistons.
Or to silence in your basement.
A wink and a nod from LaFleur
Which brings us back to the wink, which many will relate to the “hole,” because behind the wink, there is acknowledgement of a gift, from an official.
No, not cash or anything so direct or gauche. But the gift of a gathering, where folks dressed in black-and-white stripes huddled to discuss whether LaFleur had called a timeout before one of his offensive linemen jumped offsides, and concluded the timeout came first.
“Of course, they got it right,” said LaFleur, who winked as he said it. “What do you think?”
And:
“Yeah, I was calling timeout. … We call it a delay situation. Obviously, it was a timeout that we were going to use if they didn’t jump offsides, so we were going for it there regardless.”
If the flag stays, maybe the Packers convert. Maybe they don’t. But for LaFleur to act like fourth-and-6 is the same as fourth-and-1 is well, worthy of a wink.
That’s a tough look for the NFL, and an exasperating look for Lions fans. But so is the lack of a pass rush, and the season-long inability to make the play or two needed to win against the better teams in the league.
All of it can be true. The Lions got jilted. The Packers thought it was funny. The Lions still need to play much, much better.
Yeah, he winked. That’s indisputable. Nor is proof hard to find. Search “LaFleur and wink” and watch it pop up quickly – everywhere. Or at least everywhere the NFL and its officials are discussed, or everywhere the NFL is discussed.
And now everywhere the Lions are discussed.
The refs blew it. Then said they didn’t. That’s maddening, too. That’s also not why the Lions lost and fell further into their hole in the NFC North and overall playoff standings.
That could change. A lot needs to change with the Lions first.
“It all starts with you doing your job, which is us, and finding a way to win the next one in front of us,” said Campbell. “It really is that simple. Don’t make more of it than need be. It’s frustrating, it sucks, it’s tough, but we did it to ourselves and we’re the only ones who are going to get out of it as well.”
Wink …
… or not.
Contact Shawn Windsor: swindsor@freepress.com. Follow him @shawnwindsor.
Detroit — For the second time this month, a freighter has run aground in the Detroit River.
The vessel, a 629 ft. long Canadian cargo ship called the Robert S. Pierson, is stuck about 5 and a half miles upriver from the still-under-construction Gordie Howe Bridge near downtown alongside the William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor. The freighter ran aground near where the other Canadian freighter got stuck earlier this month.
The U.S. Coast Guard Detroit sector received the initial report at 1:17 a.m. Thursday morning, Petty Officer Second Class Omar Faba said. Reportedly, it became grounded at 10:35 Wednesday night, he said. The cargo ship is carrying 18,000 tons of stone and was headed to Lorain, Ohio, from Windsor, Ontario.
There have been no reported injuries, pollution or impact to vessel traffic, he said.
The U.S. Coast Guard Salvage Engineering Response Team is working with stakeholders, and a refloat plan was approved this morning. Attempts to refloat the vessel are underway, but Faba did not know when it’s expected to be back underway.
At around 10:30 a.m., the ship was stuck diagonally in the river. Two tug boats, one from Ontario and one from Minnesota, were alongside the freighter.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
satwood@detroitnews.com
ROMULUS, Mich. (WXYZ) — Travelers at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport experienced relatively smooth operations Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, despite concerns about a looming winter storm that could impact return flights over the weekend.
Watch Peter Maxwell’s video report below:
Detroit Metro Airport sees minimal delays as Thanksgiving travelers eye weather
I spent the day at Detroit Metro speaking with passengers flying out and arriving for the holiday. While delays have been minimal so far, the approaching winter weather system has many keeping a close watch on their return travel plans.
“We’re willing to accept any weather issues that occur,” said Raed Albuliwi, who was traveling to New York City.
WXYZ
Jason Moran, another traveler, described his experience as manageable despite some turbulence.
“A little bumpy, but it was pretty simple,” Moran said.
Some passengers arriving in Detroit had already encountered delays due to weather and air traffic control staffing issues in other parts of the country. Andrew Calhoun, traveling from Milwaukee, experienced a delay when his plane needed deicing.
“Had to deice the plane, so it ran a little late,” Calhoun said.
WXYZ
Robert Tomsyck faced a different issue with his flight.
“Got delayed because they were saying because of the controllers. There wasn’t as many or something,” Tomsyck said.
Departing passengers also faced some challenges. Heidi Guyer and her sons had their original flight to South Carolina canceled, forcing them to rebook on a later departure.
“This morning, woke up to an alert that the flight was canceled and we would go out on the 4:23 flight this afternoon,” Guyer said.
WXYZ
However, it’s not Wednesday’s departures from Detroit that have travelers most concerned. Many are worried about the potential winter weather later this weekend that could impact their return home.
Albuliwi said he has a backup plan if weather disrupts his return flight.
“You know, worst case, it’s New York City. We could always grab a rental and drive home,” Albuliwi said.
Dr. Monisola Olatunde, traveling to Washington, expressed cautious optimism about her return journey.
“We are a little bit worried, just a little bit. But we are hoping that the weather will change because we can’t really say. So yeah, just a little bit worried,” Olatunde said.
WXYZ
John Olatunde, also heading to Washington, emphasized the need for flexibility.
“We just have to play it by ear. Go ahead have a great holiday with the family and come home and pray that everything is good,” Olatunde said.
—————
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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