Former BIGBANG member, T.O.P, has fans scratching their heads after his noticeable absence from Squid Game Season 2’s promotional posters and cast list. While the iconic K-pop star was originally announced as part of the show, his recent exclusion has sparked curiosity and whispers from fans on social media.
Oh my gosh, I’m gonna hate TOP’s Squid Game 2 character for real 😂😂😂
Welcome back actor CHOI SEUNGHYUN! pic.twitter.com/XxHTjIooMm
— Kristine 💛빅뱅, 널 기다릴게💛 (@TinKangDaesung) November 26, 2024
Netflix dropped the main poster for the series on November 27, featuring actor Lee Jung Jae (Seong Gihun) and other members of the cast. But boom! There’s no trace of T.O.P, despite his being confirmed to be in the show. This omission comes after controversy surrounding his casting, fueled by past legal issues regarding smoking marijuana and drug use, which is illegal in South Korea.
New poster for Season 2 of ‘Squid Game.’ pic.twitter.com/T4tCqtjtTy
— Pop Base (@PopBase) November 26, 2024
The scandal broke out in 2017, resulting in a 10-month prison sentence for the idol. However, this decision was suspended after he showed remorse and apologized to fans. About the backlash due to T.O.P’s cast in the series, director Hwang Dong Hyuk defended his choice saying that it had been long since the past legal drama and highlighted the artist’s talent and commitment.
Squid Game Season 2 premieres December 26, 2024, and fans are eager to see how the story unfolds—whether T.O.P appears or not.
