Squid Game Reality Show Faces Yet Another Lawsuit Threat as Contestants Break Down Under Extreme Conditions
Squid Game became one of the most-watched Netflix shows of all time upon its release in September 2021. Directed by South Korean film director Hwang Dong-hyuk, it was based on his own economic struggles, the class disparity in Korea, and capitalism. It attracted millions of viewers from across the world and surpassed Bridgerton as Netflix’s most-watched show.
Two years later, Squid Game is back, albeit in a reality competition television series format. The first 5 episodes of the show Squid Game: The Challenge were released on November 22, 2023, and are based on the 2021 drama series. Recently, some of the contestants claimed that they were injured during the filming of the game show. In fact, they are threatening to file a lawsuit against Netflix and the show’s other producers.
Squid Game: The Challenge Contestants Claim to Have Been Injured
The 2021 show Squid Game followed 456 financially troubled players playing a series of deadly children’s games to win the prize money of ₩45.6 billion. Similarly, the reality TV series also sees 456 contestants from across the world, competing against each other in a series of games based on the parent show and a couple of new ones too, to win US $4.56 million.
According to Deadline, a British law firm is representing two unnamed players who are claiming to have suffered hypothermia and nerve damage due to the extremely cold conditions in the UK at the time of the filming of the show. These allegations are regarding the first round of the show ‘Red Light, Green Light,’ in which contestants are required to dodge the attention of a huge robotic doll.
Read More: Exciting Squid Game Season 2 Update Leaves Fans of the Korean Cult-Hit Stunned
Express Solicitors, who are known for their no-win no-fee claims policy, stated that their clients risked their physical well-being to stay in the competition as they had to stay still for extended periods. Contestants had to endure a cold snap in Britain while the game was being shot at Cardington Studios which was a Royal Air Force base in Bedford.
At the time, Netflix had said that three contestants had needed medical help. However, now, a spokesperson for Squid Game: The Challenge has denied that any lawsuits have been filed against it by any contestants.
Squid Game: The Challenge Show Producer Insists That Some of the Claims Are Inaccurate
Numerous contestants of Squid Game: The Challenge have come forth to speak of the atrocities they had been subjected to during the filming of the reality show. In a report by Variety, a contestant named John even likened the show to a “Bear Grylls survival show” and also said that a lot of players would have backed out if they had known what they were signing up for.
In the wake of the claims that the contestants have been making about the game show being rigged and cruel, show producer John Hay told Entertainment Weekly:
“We did absolutely everything appropriate, and it was a very small number of people who were treated for medical issues, but some of the reports that were given anonymously by those who were eliminated were not accurate.”
When a show of this scale and with such big companies involved is put under the radar, the safety of those speaking out against it is at risk. So, now it’s up to the viewers to decide who they want to believe in.
