NEWS: Guinness World Records is a SCAM!
I know, I know… the title may have come off a bit harsh, but it is unfortunately the truth. Early last month at Dragon*Con 2009 I helped in a record breaking reenactment of Michael Jackson’s famous “Thriller” dance. Over nine hundred others and I danced for the full length of the six minute song.
The simple fact is that Guinness World Recordsâ„¢ refuses to play by their own rules and acknowledge the achievement. With the hysteria in Jackson fandom following his death in June and the convenient placement of what would have been the artist’s 51st birthday there were multiple attempts at the record around the same time. A respectable attempt came out of England, but our attempt for the USA outnumbered their group by a few hundred. Spain tried, but they performed the incorrect version of the song and still did not have enough people. Mexico chimed in with an attempt using supposedly over 13,000 dancers, a great many more folks than ours. Hearing the news of Mexico’s attempt, we were ready to submit defeat… however their performance did not follow Guinness’ strict guidelines. Knowing the record was as good as ours, the event went off amazingly at the convention. We were all horrified when we heard that the record had been given to the faulty Mexico event. Watch both performances and read more on the sham below.
There were two requirements not followed in the Mexico attempt, compared to our tediously planned out and correct version. The rules set out by Guinness required that every single person counted toward the final amount must dance for the entire duration of the song. Mexico’s attempt used a single Michael Jackson impersonator to do some of the video’s choreography solo. It is also clearly set that only the six minute album version of the song should be used. The shorter video edit, clocking in at about half of the time, should not be accepted. These rules are set in place for a reason and a company with the amount of credibility that I thought Guinness would have had should pay heed to them. Watch this video featuring some of the Mexico City attempt.
Direct link to the video
Pretty impressive. It definitely is deserving of some acknowledgment… but not a Guinness World Record. After the announcement was made to give the record to Mexico, one of the leaders in organizing Dragon*Con’s “Thriller” attempt fired off an official request for an explanation or perhaps a recant on the decision. With a few down right insulting e-mails from the Guinness staff passed and everyone’s realization that they are just trying to get rid of us, I can officially call the company a scam. Especially since Dragon*Con’s money fronted to Guinness to enter the contest will not be refunded.
Now watch the attempt from Dragon*Con. Notice the full length of the song used.
Direct link to the video
Looks like fun, eh? Well it was. Despite Guinness’ refusal to play fair, I can honestly say that I don’t regret a second of it. Not all of the time spent on Thrill the World watching the videos to learn the dance. Not any of the rehearsals at the convention. And especially not any of the 358 seconds (5:58) spent setting the record the right way. And that’s what is important.
So suck on that, Mexico!
You tell them Guiness sons-a-bitches that Jack Burton is comin’ for ‘em, and you know what he always says about situations like this…
I think you know how much it upsets me. My teeth begin to clench whenever I think of it.
Although we’re about to be in three other books, one which came to me because he’d heard Mexico did not follow guidelines (that gave me a boost), I will then sent Guinness a terse snail mail about this whole mess.
I want a reason for them changing the rules suddenly. I want to know why it was ok for Mexico to lie on the ground while an impersonator (badly, I must add) did the beginning of the video. Their two minutes dancing does not deserve the GWR as per the guidelines. I’ll fight this until I get something from them even if it’s a cease and desist letter.
Excellent blog! Thanks for being there! Keep your moves smooth, as I’ve already informed Mandy and D*C boss Pat they may need to find a place to fit 14,000 of us.
Rally the nerds!! Guinness is going down!!
lame lame lame. Mexico should get a world record for “having the most people gathered while they play the song “Thriller”. Watching the video you can see pockets of folks doing the dance but the vast majority are just sitting there dancing however they want to dance. Guiness sucks, that’s all there is to it.