'Squid Game: The Challenge' Players Threaten To Sue Netflix Over Nerve Damage, Hypothermia During Filming
Contestants from "Squid Game: The Challenge" are considering legal action against Netflix and producers, alleging they experienced hypothermia and nerve damage during filming.
Contestants from "Squid Game: The Challenge" are considering legal action against Netflix and producers, alleging they experienced hypothermia and nerve damage during filming.
According to a report by Deadline on Monday, two potential plaintiffs who are working with a British personal injury law firm claim the injuries happened while they were shooting in the UK's chilly weather.
Attorneys have dispatched letters to Studio Lambert and The Garden, co-producers of Netflix's "Squid Game: The Challenge," a British game show featuring 456 contestants vying for a record-breaking cash prize of $4.56 million.
A representative for Netflix, Studio Lambert, and The Garden responded to The Post on Friday, stating:
"None of the Squid Game competitors have filed a lawsuit. We take the welfare of our contestants extremely seriously.¡±
The program, aired on Thursday, draws inspiration from Netflix's South Korean dystopian hit drama series, "Squid Game," where 456 financially distressed players risk their lives in deadly children's games for a substantial cash prize.
The contestants' grievances center around their participation in shooting the show's opening game, "Red Light, Green Light," involving evading the attention of a menacing robotic doll by freezing in position, as reported by Deadline.
Filming of the show took place at Cardington Studios, a former Royal Air Force base in Bedford, during a cold spell in England, with temperatures hitting 32 degrees.
According to a report from Variety on Wednesday, some contestants experienced collapses after engaging in the game for six hours.
One contestant told the outlet: ¡°Imagine you¡¯re playing ¡®Red Light Green Light¡¯ for six hours. What kind of 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,¡¯¡± another player said.
¡°The conditions were absolutely inhumane and had nothing to do with the game."
Contestants raised concerns about not being allowed to wear warm clothing during the shoot, being limited to the provided jumpsuits, and being required to hold poses for up to 20 minutes, significantly longer than the initially stated 2 minutes.
They also complained about early wake-up calls at 3:30 a.m., insufficient food after filming, and widespread exhaustion among participants.
Netflix confirmed to Variety that three out of 456 contestants needed medical attention.
Netflix
In February, Deadline reported that the show underwent an independent safety inspection following the medical incidents on set. Britain's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated the conditions but concluded that no further action was necessary.
In April 2023, Netflix faced similar allegations from contestants on "Love is Blind."
The report indicates that participants experienced insufficient access to food, water, and sleep, along with excessive alcohol consumption and emotional manipulation from the show's producers.
Netflix
Despite the show's central theme of whether love is blind, multiple reports claimed numerous contestants regret participating in the series due to the challenging conditions they faced during filming.
Indiatimes independently could not verify the veracity of claims against Netflix.
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