As we drove off the highway, our eyes were peeled for any sign of a chocolate wonderland hiding in the midst of nondescript warehouses just outside downtown LA. Unfortunately, just like Willy Wonka in the classic novel, the organizers didn’t make it easy for us. Still, we persevered. After our second wrap around the block, we found our golden ticket into the chocolate factory: scrawled on a piece of letter paper and taped to a steel door were directions for “WILLY’S CHOCOLATE/ENTER IN ALLEY.” And so we parked, got our cameras ready, and prepared to walk into a realm of pure imagination.
Nothing we could’ve imagined even compared to what we found inside. For anybody remotely online, it would be a feat to somehow miss the farce that was Willy’s Chocolate Experience in Glasgow. From the viral photo of Kirsty Paterson (better known as the “Sad Oompa Loompa”) standing at a setup described by some as a meth lab, to the masked Unknown scaring the children in attendance, this event found a new home on every screen and across every social network. Past the alley gates, we found a total embrace of the original event’s absurdism, but with a California twist. In addition to our allotted two jelly beans, we found a mini-theater installation, THC cotton candy, and a massive poster with a cease-and-desist letter sent to event organizers on behalf of Nathan Fielder. What better place than LA to bring the experience’s explosive virality to life?
Still, any recreation of Willy’s Chocolate Experience wouldn’t be complete without the infamous Sad Oompa Loompa. Luckily, Paterson’s green wig was unmistakable, even from a distance. After a brief scare (courtesy of the Unknown), we tracked Paterson down to ask a few questions about what’s next.
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity purposes.
Interviewed by Ellis Wren
Ellis Wren: Welcome to LA! What’s first on your bucket list while you’re here?
Kirsty Paterson: I’m really enjoying just being in America- experiencing the people, experiencing a different culture. I’ve never been to America before, so I’m very blessed that this opportunity allowed me to not just travel to America, but also network and meet new people.
Ellis: How long are you in the US for?
Kirsty: I’m starting here in Los Angeles and then I’m on my way to New York for eight total days in America.
Ellis: So we’re starting off strong in LA! What are your expectations for tonight?
Kirsty: I’m just going to have fun! This all came about to boost people’s mood, so fun’s what the whole event’s about.
Ellis: So with that in mind, if you could go back to February when everything went viral, would you do this again if you could?
Kirsty: When the event happened, I was a struggling actor; I was actually trying to start my yoga teaching up. It was a really difficult time for me: back home at 29 after the breakup, so from that to now, it’s been completely life-changing. So, would I do it again to have this outcome? Definitely, but I didn’t know it was going to end up as amazing as what it has. I’m very lucky.
Ellis: When you got there, what was the first thought that came into your mind?
Kirsty: When I first went there, it looked like things weren’t set up. I kind of thought to myself they’re going to be working throughout the night, there’s going to be lighting, they’re going to add more props into this. I did have a deep uneasy feeling in my stomach that something wasn’t right, but we went there the night before and were back in again at 8 in the morning, so I didn’t really have enough time to really think. I was just watching the original Willy Wonka film thinking “What is that Unknown- is there something I’ve missed here?”
So then I went in on Saturday and it was still as bad as Friday, and they handed me this horrible outfit. I was just like, “surely this can’t be it.” I debated walking out, but then the kids started coming in and I couldn’t walk away, because they were just so cute.
Ellis: Could you tell me a little bit about that photo of you that went viral: how did your friends and family react to that when it first got out there?
Kirsty: So I actually didn’t use social media: I just had a personal Instagram, so when this went viral, I actually turned off my phone because I didn’t know how to handle it. I didn’t realize it was going to be as positive, as amazing as what it’s become.
So it was my sister that said to me, “you can either run away from this or make a career out of this and actually meet the right people.” So I thought, “You know what: I’m going to do that,” but then when I logged back into my Instagram and my WhatsApp I had a thousand messages. I think people were just like making sure I was okay, but overall, people were all really positive and happy for me. My family said that this was just perfect because I was about to do acting and theater, so it’s been overall really great.
Ellis: You also mentioned that you’re a yoga instructor. How did going viral affect your teaching?
Kirsty: I was just qualified in yoga, so the reason I went back into acting, and this job, was that I was trying to make a bit of extra money because it’s really hard starting out self-employed. So it’s kind of slowed it down, but my hope is to do kids’ yoga in the future and this has helped it grow.
Ellis: How did you personally deal with the shock of going viral?
Kirsty: I think I’m quite a strong, persistent person. I don’t like to let life beat me down. I didn’t deal with it well at the start- I’m not going to sugar coat it and make it out like it’s all been easy, that it’s not been ups and downs, because it’s been a lot. I think I’ve just been persistent and bold with it; I’ve got a good support network, I’ve got a good family, and really good friends, so I’m blessed! Another thing about it is the people who’ve supported me online, and been positive towards me. This could have ended up in a very much different state for myself, so the positivity online really really made it great for myself.
Ellis: And before I let you go, do you have any advice you’d like to share with anyone who might find themselves in a similar situation to you?
Kirsty: So, what can I say? Whenever you do a rubbish job that you hate, when there’s something bad going on in your life, try to not worry too much, because your life can just change overnight. You can always win the golden ticket in life.
Read more about this event in the News Department’s summer zine, Social Butterfly, where we explore the evolution of public figures and identities in an increasingly parasocial society. Coming soon!
