He spoke out for the first time in a new documentary.
Billy Coull, Director at House of Illuminati, the events firm behind the recent viral Willy’s Chocolate Experience in Glasgow that caused controversy, has said that his “life has been ruined” following the affair.
The organiser of the now-notorious immersive experience was the subject of heavy backlash online and criticism from the media industry after footage and images emerged of the underwhelming and overpriced event.
In a Channel 5 documentary which aired last night entitled Willy Wonka: The Scandal That Rocked Britain, Mr Coull described how an event that he hoped would be “joyful and happy”, turned sour.
“My life has been turned around. My life is ruined,” he said.
“I was hoping for an event that would be joyful and happy. I wanted people to experience happiness.”
It was the sweet event that left families with a bitter taste 😳🍫
— Channel 5 (@channel5_tv) March 12, 2024
📺 Hear from the Organiser in an exclusive interview. Wonka: The Scandal That Rocked Britain, Saturday 7.35pm on Channel 5 & My5 pic.twitter.com/0xxD5iQ6I1
Organiser of infamous Willy Wonka event says his life is ‘ruined’
In the documentary, Coull revealed that he cancelled a dream destination wedding that was due to be funded with ticket sales.
He added that he had received ‘hundreds and hundreds’ of messages online telling him he should end his life, that he is the ‘devil’, ‘a villain’ and even a terrible father.
Hundreds of parents and children were left fuming (and in some cases, traumatised) after they paid to attend a ‘Willy Wonka experience‘ that had been sold as “journey filled with wondrous creations and enchanting surprises at every turn.”
But when they turned up, they were met by an “abandoned, empty warehouse,” with sweets being served from cookie trays, actors doing their best to perform an AI-generated script and a couple of shoddy props.
One of the stars of the show though was undoubtedly The Unknown. This was a bizarre, creepy character inexplicably included in the production despite having absolutely nothing to do with Willy Wonka.
The actor who played the creepy character revealed earlier this week that the fame surrounding her performance had led to her landing a job at the historic London Dungeons.
As well as being criticised for the logistical elements of the event, Billy Coull was chastised after it came out that he had turned to AI generated text to conjure up an idyllic image of the event that failed to materialise.
He wrote on the website: “Delectable Chocolate Fountains.
“Picture yourself standing before cascading chocolate fountains, each velvety stream inviting you to dip, indulge, and savor the richness of Willy Wonka’s world.
“These delectable fountains are not just a treat for the taste buds; they’re a visual spectacle, creating an atmosphere of chocolatey bliss that permeates the air.
“As we countdown to the day when Willy Wonka’s world comes to life, imagine a day filled with laughter, joy, and the irresistible allure of chocolate.
“The immersive delights of this event are poised to create lasting memories and redefine what it means to step into a world of pure imagination.”
Many viewers were shocked by how stressed and ‘broken’ Mr Coull looked during last night’s programme, and some expressed concern for his wellbeing.
One person wrote: “This is someone’s mental health and life we are talking about, we say time and time again, be kind, he doesn’t deserve death threats.”
Another said: “I know this was a bad experience and I agree they should get their money back and it’s not ok to upset kids, but I genuinely hope Billy is ok.”
