The highly anticipated Squid Game Season 2 is set to premiere on December 26, but a recent press conference for the show has sparked criticism.
The event, held as part of a “World Premiere” celebration, introduced the cast to the media, yet netizens were quick to express frustration over the lineup.
One of the most noticeable aspects of the event was the absence of cast member T.O.P. Many speculated that his no-show was linked to past drug controversies, a topic that has surrounded the artist for years. While T.O.P’s exclusion seemed to appease some, it also reignited anger among fans who questioned why other cast members with controversial histories were present.
A rapist, a drunk driver, and a cheater are welcomed here without question, but TOP is excluded? Seriously, this is an absolute joke. https://t.co/MV0K4fK7PR
— waveafterwave (@waveafterwave11) December 9, 2024
Yes, the director took the abuser Jinwook to read the script and left his most popular actor out because he smoked marijuana 8 years ago and the population cries about it to this day. https://t.co/kj2q67Mnu3 pic.twitter.com/n301tN7KrW
— sloan jurídico thanos vilão (@seunghyunlogie) December 9, 2024
The backlash wasn’t limited to T.O.P’s absence. Netizens voiced concerns about several prominent actors who attended the event, including Lee Jung Jae, Lee Byung Hun, and new addition Lee Jin Wook. They brought up past scandals involving these stars, questioning the standards used to determine who should represent the show.
Nothing can ruin a man's career.
— ✴︎ (@xingflavor) December 9, 2024
Lee jinwook: a rapist
Lee junjae : 2 time DUI charges, assaulted a woman and apparently fraud too?
Lee byunghhun: cheated on his wife multiple times (she was pregnant mind you), gambling https://t.co/jPOSWXDCjA
Photos from the press conference were widely shared online, but many reactions were negative. Some viewers even edited the images to cover the actors' faces, reflecting their dissatisfaction with the lineup
the only people we are watching squid game 2 for https://t.co/gnnZqdC5Px pic.twitter.com/GDJsGEIOt4
— jino saw billlie (@myungjunha) December 10, 2024