Netflix has been slammed for being ‘ignorant’ and ‘tone deaf’ after the trailer dropped for a new reality TV competition show that is based on the wildly popular series Squid Game.
Named Squid Game: The Challenge, the series is unscripted and sees real-life contestants endure the same challenges as the ones faced in the South Korean drama, but without the life or death consequences.
Initially fans of Squid Game were excited to see a new trailer involving the much-watched fictional show, but it turned quickly to disappointment when they learned it was for the reality TV series.
The trailer featured 456 contestants wearing numbered track suits as they entered through a vault into a room of bunk beds.
Netflix just dropped a trailer for a new reality TV competition based on the series Squid Game and viewers are aghast, calling the streaming platform ‘ignorant’ and ‘tone deaf’
The trailer featured 456 contestants wearing numbered track suits as they enter through a vault into a room of bunk beds and moved through a multi-colored hallway
Narration throughout the trailer warned that it would be a ‘savage game’ that is filled with ‘double-crossing’ and had to be ‘played with strategy’ (pictured from Squid Game: The Challenge)
For each competition, they enter the game hall through a spiraling, multi-colored hallway while being watched by guards in pink jumpsuits with shapes covering their faces.
Throughout the series, they compete in the same games featured on the show including Red Light, Green Light; Sugar Honeycombs and Hopscotch.
Narration throughout the trailer warned that it would be a ‘savage game’ that is filled with ‘double-crossing’ and has to be ‘played with strategy.’
Whoever makes it to the end wins a $4.56 million prize.
Along with the trailer, Netflix tweeted, ‘Make friends. Make enemies. Make millions,’ and revealed that the show will premiere on November 22.
However, viewers were disappointed that Netflix hadn’t yet delivered its promise of Squid Game season two before releasing this series.
‘We need season 2 of real Squid Game. Please,’ one wrote.
‘So, can we get season 2 instead of this reality show?’ another asked.
Squid Game became a smash hit on Netflix and is now getting a reality TV competition series
High stakes: Whoever makes it to the end wins a $4.56 million prize
Throughout the series, they compete in the same games featured on the show including Red Light, Green Light; Sugar Honeycombs and Hopscotch (pictured from Squid Game: The Challenge)
However, viewers were disappointed that Netflix hadn’t yet delivered its promise of Squid Game season two before releasing this series
Along with the trailer, Netflix tweeted, ‘Make friends. Make enemies. Make millions,’ and revealed that the show will premiere on November 22
A third commented: ‘And yet, what we actually asked for was a second season, not a game show.’
Viewers were also disappointed with how Netflix brought the competition that the Squid Game TV series satirizes to life and condemned the streaming platform.
‘I see you completely missed the point of the series. Good job,’ they wrote.
‘How are you so ignorant to the entire point of the show that was on your platform,’ another wondered. ‘Like did you even watch it?’
‘The fact this even exists proves they didn’t understand the point of the actual show – it’s going to be so disappointing how popular this will likely be,’ a third penned.
Many pointed out that Netflix represents the very forces of power that the series is trying to speak out against and is ignorantly proving the point of the series.
‘Making a reality game show based a show that critiques capitalism is still super cringe,’ one user wrote.
Another commented: ‘I hate that this exists. Squid Game’s entire premise was a satire of greed, class warfare and exploitation of the working class. So naturally a large corporate entity like Netflix just saw dollar signs $$$.’
Viewers were also disappointed with how Netflix brought the competition that the very series is satirizing to life and condemned the streaming platform (pictured from Squid Game: The Challenge)
Many pointed out that Netflix represents the very forces of power that the series is trying to speak out against, and is ignorantly proving the point of the series
Others were quick to point out how Netflix was willing to dole out millions of dollars on the heels of the Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild strikes
‘Squid Game is a show about people struggling with finances, being played with and humiliated by the rich. It is not subtle about it, and mentions some Korea-specific circumstances and events,’ one viewer said, adding: ‘Making a fun happy-go-lucky game out of it is, IMO (in my opinion), tasteless.’
Others were quick to point out how Netflix was willing to dole out $4.5 million on the heels of the Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild strikes.
‘I don’t know how tone deaf you have to be to create this, it’s insurmountable. capitalism at its finest (also, this is what you pour all your money into instead of properly paying staff? lol),’ they wrote.
Additionally, Netflix was accused of not paying the Squid Game series creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, any residuals even though it was one of the highest-earning series on the platform and they’ve now made this competition series based on it.
‘The creator of squid game not being paid adequately while netflix continues to profit from it while also missing the whole point of the show,’ another noted. ‘How anyone can look forward to watching this is crazy.’
One user brought up allegations made by contestants about series.
‘Just a ANOTHER reminder that contestants of Squid Game: The Challenge were reported to have been treated very poorly on and off set,’ they wrote.
Many pointed out that Netflix represents the very forces of power that the series is trying to speak out against, and is ignorantly proving the point of the series (pictured from Squid Game: The Challenge)
Additionally, Netflix was accused of not paying the Squid Games series creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, any residuals even though it was one of the highest-earning series on the platform
One user brought up scandals attached to the series that have since seemingly been buried under the surface (pictured from Squid Game: The Challenge)
Three anonymous contestants spoke to Variety, claiming they had to film for hours on end in zero degree Celsius weather.
‘This is not a Bear Grylls survival show. If they had told us it was going to be that cold, no one would have gone through with it,’ the first source shared.
They 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.’
‘It’s not like we signed up for Survivor or Naked and Afraid,’ a second source claimed. ‘The conditions were absolutely inhumane and had nothing to do with the game.’
They explained that about four people fainted just after the second round of the game.
‘The second time the song played, I saw in my left peripheral vision that this girl was swaying. Then she just buckled, and you could hear her head actually hit the ground,’ they explained.
‘But then someone came on the [microphone] and said to hold our positions because the game is not paused. After that, people were dropping like flies.’
Three anonymous contestants spoke to Variety, claiming they had to film for hours on end in zero degree Celsius weather (pictured from Squid Game: The Challenge)
They explained that about four people fainted just after the second round of the game (pictured from Squid Game: The Challenge)
After medics were called for the ’11th’ time, the second source claimed ‘they started giving us relaxation breaks’ (pictured from Squid Game: The Challenge)
After medics were called for the ’11th’ time, the second source claimed ‘they started giving us relaxation breaks. They said, “Don’t move your feet, but if you want to bend your knees, and move your arms around, you can.”‘
A third player insisted: ‘I’m infuriated by the narrative that Netflix is putting out there, that only [a few] people were injured… we were all injured just by going through that experience.
‘I’ve never been that cold for that long a period in my life. We couldn’t feel our feet or our toes. It was ridiculous.’
‘Take some responsibility for the fact that you were ill-prepared for this kind of thing, with this number of people,’ the third source added between tears.
‘There were some things I guess [producers] didn’t think about, but when they saw the weather was going to be that way, they should have made adjustments.’
Netflix released a statement following the accusations.
‘We care deeply about the health of our cast and crew, and the quality of this show. Any suggestion that the competition is rigged or claims of serious harm to players are simply untrue,’ they wrote.
‘We’ve taken all the appropriate safety precautions, including after care for contestants – and an independent adjudicator is overseeing each game to ensure it’s fair to everyone.’