Netflix responds to ‘Squid Game: The Challenge’ criticism
(Credit: Netflix)

Netflix News

Netflix responds to 'Squid Game: The Challenge' criticism

Netflix has responded to criticism that participants of the recently announced Squid Game: The Challenge have been working under extreme conditions. 

Reports of such on-set discomfort came from an article by Variety, where a small group of anonymous contestants stated that they were made to endure a seven-hour ordeal, which involved partaking in conditions of minus temperatures without appropriate warmth. “This is not a Bear Grylls survival show. It’s not like we signed up for Survivor or Naked and Afraid,” one contestant told the publication: “The conditions were absolutely inhumane and had nothing to do with the game”. 

Another anonymous contestant, who used a pseudonym in the article added: “Imagine you’re playing ‘Red Light Green Light’ for six hours. What game is that? This isn’t a game. The fun is now gone. You can’t tell people they have to stand in below freezing temperatures in just a tracksuit and two pairs of socks. Come on”. 

In response to these criticisms, a joint statement from Studio Lambert, The Garden and Netflix reads: “We care deeply about the health and safety of our cast and crew, and invested in all the appropriate safety procedures…While it was very cold on set – and participants were prepared for that – any claims of serious injury are untrue”. 

Since its release in September 2021, the original Squid Game drama has risen to dominance, quickly becoming Netflix’s most popular series launch in the history of the streaming service, pulling in 111 million viewers worldwide. Whilst creator Hwang Dong-hyuk doesn’t give much away in terms of the plot of the upcoming series, he does reveal: “I do think it’s too early to say when and how that’s going to happen. So I will promise you this: Gi-hun will come back, and he’ll do something for the world”. 

The first season of Squid Game is available now on Netflix, and season two is confirmed for the near future.