A few days ago, the successful Netflix series ‘Squid Game‘ announced its second season to be released in the current year 2024, but despite this exciting revival, the production has been facing strong controversies.
The suspense series released in 2021 was a worldwide success, winning important awards and reaching series records. Although it is expected that, with its initial success, its second installment will achieve great numbers soon after its release, some scandals could be an impediment.
Among the controversies is the inclusion of K-Pop rapper T.O.P. or Choi Seung-hyun, a former member of BIGBANG, in the second installment of the series. The public displeasure was because he was previously accused of marijuana use and workplace harassment.
T.O.P (Choi Seung-hyun) will return to acting for the first time in 6 years on Season 2 of ‘Squid Game.’ pic.twitter.com/2XvaHcNfu3
— Pop Base (@PopBase) June 29, 2023
After his confirmation in the cast, speculations about casting influences rose due to his connection with the star, Lee Jung-jae. However, the actor’s company and Netflix itself denied this, with statements assuring that “the casting of the work is the authority of the director and the production company“.
Another controversy around the series was when, on July 20th, 2023, a post on an online community titled “Saw a ‘Squid Game 2’ staff yesterday who thought shooting was a privilege” emerged in which a netizen expressed his discomfort with the staff member’s behavior at Incheon Airport.
'Squid Game 2' issues apology following complaint of discomfort caused by a staff member during the filming at Incheon airport https://t.co/inui3evGAf#SquidGame2 #오징어게임2 pic.twitter.com/rEfRZGQlTH
— pannatic (@pannatic) July 11, 2023
These controversies could worry the production company, as this may harm the release of the second season and not surpass the great success the series surely had in its first installment on the streaming service.