Bluey is a massively popular animated dog from Australian TV which has resonated with kids and adults alike, but it's still massively primarily known as a children’s show.
To gain on this popularity a Las Vegas hot dog restaurant, Dirt Dog hosted a Bluey-themed event that is facing criticism after a left parents frustrated and children in tears as it turned out to be a massive disappointment.
The event, held on May 11th, promised a fun-filled day for fans of the popular Australian children's cartoon, featuring face painting, games, treats, and a meet-and-greet with characters.
However, reality fell far short of expectations.
Attendees reported a poorly organized event with significant shortcomings.
Parents took to social media to express their disappointment, with many citing a lack of adherence to the advertised activities.
One major point of contention was the "meet-and-greet with characters."
According to Stephanie Hernandez, a parent who attended the event with her daughter, the promised Bluey character was nothing more than "a guy in a onesie."
Her daughter, Sophia, echoed this sentiment, stating, "I was mad. He looked unexpected. We could see his beard."
Another point of frustration was the lack of promised refreshments.
Treats reportedly ran out quickly, leaving many children disappointed. The quality of the face painting was also called into question, with some parents describing it as "amateur" or "worse than MacKenzie's Mum" (a reference to a character from the show).
Social media users further criticized the overall experience.
One parent remarked, "When you order your Bluey event from Wish," referencing an online retailer known for low-quality products. Another parent posted on the event page, "Thanks for ruining my 3-year-old's day!"
Dirt Dog responded to the backlash with an apology on social media, acknowledging that the event "wasn't to standard" and promising to improve future events.
They also explained their surprise at the high turnout, stating they only anticipated 50-60 attendees despite having over 3,000 respond to the event on Facebook.
A spokesperson for Dirt Dog, Taj Wilder, told FOX5 Las Vegas, "We expected like maybe 50 to 60 people – not in the sense of like the whole city coming out. Just now knowing who Bluey is, we would have planned ahead and would have had security."
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