Entertainment
Bridgerton Fans Taken In By Complete Scam?


Fans of the hit Netflix show Bridgerton love to bask in the show’s stylish recreations of the early 19th century. It’s no wonder, then, that fans in Detroit jumped at the chance to participate in a lavish ball that was meant to recreate some vibes so elegant that even Lady Whistledown would have no complaints.
However, the “Bridgerton Ball” ended up being a major bust, and fans have declared that the whole thing was a scam on the level of the disastrous Willy Wonka Experience held in Scotland back in March.
Based on the description provided by the organizers, attendees of the Bridgerton Ball had no reason to expect a scam. The event was described as a chance to “step into the enchanting world of the Regency-era … for an evening of sophistication, grace and historical charm.”
What attendees discovered was a space with allegedly no place to sit, vendors hawking anachronistic treats such as Kit-Kats, and even a stripper for entertainment.
Before this Bridgerton event was revealed to be an apparent scam, what was it supposed to entail, exactly? One attendee claimed that the event was supposed to “have classical music, a good dinner…a play, and they were going to pick diamonds the season,” the latter a reference to Queen Charlotte picking out the most eligible woman of the season.
Attendees were also promised cool prize giveaways, but in the words of that same attendee, “We went in, and it’s completely empty in there.”
Attendees were also promised cool prize giveaways, but in the words of that same attendee, “We went in, and it’s completely empty in there.”
Other Bridgerton fans had similar reports of the event, which made it sound like a scam (or at least scam-adjacent), including that there was allegedly no place for attendees to sit.
Another attendee (who described the event as “complete chaos”) claimed that organizers “never even scanned our tickets” and that “there were random people all throughout the venue.”
Another attendee acknowledged that “the venue was nice” but claimed that “the decor was sparse and extremely tacky,” noting how they “spent $400 on tickets” for something that “wasn’t even Bridgerton themed.”
The Bridgerton Ball ball didn’t have some of the advertised experiences, including giving away a cash prize to the best-dressed attendees or choosing the aforementioned diamond.
Additionally, the ball didn’t have some of the advertised experiences, including giving away a cash prize to the best-dressed attendees or choosing the aforementioned diamond.
Adding insult to injury is the fact that vendors were comprised of local sellers selling standard festival supplies and that a dancer at the event (the only dancer) was described by an attendee as a stripper.
It may go without saying, but this was not an official event, though some attendees may have confused it with The Queen’s Ball: A Bridgerton Experience.
The organizers of this Bridgerton Ball maintain that this was not a scam. They later released a statement to ABC affiliate WXYZ-TV that mentioned how “organizational challenges affected the enjoyment of some guests” and that “We take full responsibility and accountability for these shortcomings.”

The statement ended with a promise that they are “doing everything in our power to make this right,” though it’s not yet clear what form (like refunds for the tickets, which ranged from $150-$1,000) that would take.
A Bridgerton event that turned out to be a disappointing scam obviously makes the show itself look bad, but so far, Netflix hasn’t commented on this wild scandal. That’s probably for the best…Lady Whistledown might remind us all that the surest way to make a story you hate spread is to talk about it.
That makes the streamer’s silence on the matter rather wise, but that doesn’t mean the rest of the ton won’t be gossiping about this while we wait for the next season to drop.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love

Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121

TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025

Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.