{"id":293605,"date":"2026-06-02T21:37:14","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T21:37:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/293605\/"},"modified":"2026-06-02T21:37:14","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T21:37:14","slug":"backlash-prompts-pop-up-speakeasy-to-drop-ted-bundy-references-from-tallahassee-event-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/293605\/","title":{"rendered":"Backlash prompts pop-up speakeasy to drop Ted Bundy references from Tallahassee event"},"content":{"rendered":"

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – It\u2019s hard to escape on local social media \u2014ads and posts for an upcoming pop-up speakeasy all about serial killers, including Ted Bundy, whose Tallahassee rampage still scars many in town<\/a>. <\/p>\n

On Tuesday, the Tallahassee Garden Club told WCTV via email that organizers had agreed to remove Bundy from the experience entirely following local backlash.<\/p>\n

The event is set for mid-July at the Tallahassee Garden Club. The club told WCTV that it was booked as a mystery theater event and that they didn\u2019t realize it was serial killer themed until recently.<\/p>\n

The club\u2019s board says the recent drama has caused \u201cgreat angst.\u201d <\/p>\n

The Tallahassee Garden Club, a 501c3, charitable organization, has owned and restored the historic Rutgers House for 72 years Our home is rented out for private functions such as weddings, baby & bridal showers, celebrations of life , proms, meetings, dinners, Christmas parties, et cetera.<\/p>\n

TGC does not discriminate.<\/p>\n

Tallahassee Garden Club is not hosting or sponsoring the Mystery Theater. This is a rental just like all other rentals. TGC learned this was a serial killer theme shortly before it was reported in the local newspaper.<\/p>\n

Our Trustees have spoken with the company renting the facility and they have agreed to remove all references to Ted Bundy from their production.<\/p>\n

This has caused great angst among our membership and the community.<\/p>\n

Before that news broke on Tuesday, Diane McCain gathered with a few of her former Chi Omega sisters this morning. <\/p>\n

They were on Florida State University\u2019s campus when Bundy killed and bludgeoned their friends. <\/p>\n

McCain says she was disgusted when she found out about the event, which bills itself as a live, immersive and chilling cocktail hour for the morbidly curious.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey have no clue what real death means and what evil means. And that\u2019s why we\u2019re speaking out. Someone has to take a stand against evil and what we influence our minds with in terms of fact versus fiction. Again, fiction is one thing. Reality is another. And that\u2019s what they are overlooking at this point is these were real people that suffered greatly and continue to suffer to this day,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

More Tallahassee news:<\/p>\n

McCain was happy to hear the updated plans to omit Bundy from the event.<\/p>\n

WCTV reached out to the company putting on the event, Midnight Creative, and has not heard back. <\/p>\n

But in a podcast interview with a writer for the event <\/a>posted to social media saying the intent of the event has \u201calways been to inform, never to idolize.\u201d <\/p>\n

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