Squid Game: The Challenge sparked outrage from the minute it was introduced, and it looks the outrage isn’t going away anytime soon.
The reality show is modelled on a South Korean Netflix smash from 2021 that had people participating in lethal playground activities for a large cash reward.
Despite widespread criticism that the new programme lacks the anti-capitalist ethos of the previous series, Netflix persisted.
However, it appears that the issues have not been resolved, with some of the candidates threatening to sue Netflix after sustaining injuries while shooting.
Some competitors are said to have had hypothermia and suffered nerve damage while playing games like Red Light Green Light.
Recording for the series is said to have taken place at Cardington Studios in Bedfordshire during a severe cold spell in Britain.
Netflix revealed at the time that three of the 456 contestants needed medical attention, but argued that any ‘reports of significant injuries’ were false.
The legal lawsuit, on the other hand, claims that participants suffered as a direct result of the freezing conditions and that medics were contacted many times throughout shooting.
‘Contestants thought they were taking part in something fun and those injured did not expect to suffer as they did,’ a statement from Express Solicitors read.
‘Now they have injuries after spending time confined in excruciating stress postures in freezing weather,’ the statement stated.
‘Someone [fainted], people [shouted] for medics. We have a case where someone complains of hypothermia. One had his hands turn purple from the cold.’
Netflix, on the other hand, has emphasised that no lawsuit has been filed and that the ‘welfare of our contestants’ is of the utmost priority.
‘No lawsuit has been filed by any of the Squid Game contestants. We take the welfare of our contestants extremely seriously.’
Furthermore, following an investigation of the show’s safety measures, the Health and Safety Executive UK government agency determined that no additional action was required.
Contestants in the reproduction of the 2021 popular series fight for a cash reward of $4.56 million (£3.6 million), the greatest cash prize in TV gameshow history.
Watch Squid Game: The Challenge on Netflix.
