Please Don’t Hate Me For My Controversial Opinion, But It Needs To Be Said

Internet outrage is nothing new. Online users have been bringing attention to things that offend them for years and no matter if you agree with them, or not, it makes an impact. Sometimes, however, you have no other choice than to go against the popular opinion and speak from your heart. Is it going to upset some people? Sure. Are you going to lose friends? Absolutely. But what’s the point of living life if you’re just living a lie?

With that being said, I have a confession to make. This is something that’s bothered me for years, but I’ve remained silent. I’ve bit my tongue and turned my head one too many times. I can no longer remain silent. I don’t mean to be dramatic or make it seem like I’m trying to build suspense because, honestly, that’s not my intentions. When you’re getting something off your chest that you’ve hidden in your heart for years it’s beyond difficult. I want to apologize to my family and loved ones in advance, but it has to be said.

Here goes.

I think Willy Wonka was a bad person.

As I write these words I can feel the walls closing in on me, and yet there’s an odd aroma of freedom. Everyone celebrates and loves Willie Wonka, but what did he do for the community besides ravage it and then leave it for dead? He had a massive factory that was clearly the backbone of the city and then because a few of his ideas were copied by competitors he shuts it down? That’s the mentality of a child taking their ball and going home. That’s not the way a successful businessman behaves.

Later Wonka decides to reopen the factory. Hooray the town is saved! Oh wait. You mean he didn’t hire local, qualified workers to stimulate the economy? No, he outsources 100% of the jobs to workers that I’m certain aren’t in the country legally. He did it all so he could pay them in chocolate, instead of cash. This is how drug dealers operate. You don’t pay someone in product instead of a fair wage. Instead, we trash Veruca’s dad because he spent a large sum on money searching for a ticket. Hey, what kind of workers did he use? Were they tiny slaves being paid in M&Ms? No, they were local and hard working employees. At one point he even catches one of them trying to steal the golden ticket from him. Did he pull a Wonka and shut down the factory? Nope! He merely took the ticket and went on his way. I doubt she even lost her job. That’s how a successful corporation is built. You invest in your employees. Wonka’s business ethics are repulsive.

Finally, everyone loves to talk about how great it is that Wonka gave Charlie and his lazy grandpa the factory to live in. By the way, can we talk about how disgusting it is that Charlie’s mom and dad worked tirelessly every day to provide for their family while Joe laid in bed all day living like a king, but as soon as Charlie showed up with that golden ticket, his legs were suddenly healed? Praise the lord! Lazy Joe finally found motivation. He couldn’t find the strength to get out of bed to help out around the house, but if he’s going to a chocolate factory somehow his arthritis melts away. I wish he had drown in the chocolate swamp instead of Augustus. That kid was just obese; at least he wasn’t a liar and a manipulator.

Wonka giving the factory to Charlie is great, but what about the other families he put through hell? Honestly, he probably gave the factory to Charlie so he could disappear from authorities for murdering multiple children. He gives it to Charlie and now Charlie is held accountable for the factory’s negligence and not Wonka. I know you may not want to hear all of this, but it needed to be brought to light.

You don’t have to like it, but you need to accept it. The scariest monsters are the ones that hide in plain sight, but I’m tired of sitting by silently and letting them get away with it. You deserve better.