What did Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk say about T.O.P drug scandal? Details explored 

There's no doubt that Squid Game season two has achieved its phenomenal global status owing to its characters. Apart from the leading characters of Gi-hun and Young-il, Squid Game season two consisted of several memorable supporting characters who had their own complete arcs.

One such character in Squid Game season two was that of Thanos, also known as Player 230. The character was portrayed by South Korean rap artist Seung-hun alias T.O.P. from the act known as BigBang.

Thanos from Squid Game season two has been widely praised for his eccentric and often dark comedic performance. Throughout the United States and other countries, fans of Squid Game are praising him as the most memorable character from the Netflix show. However, in his own home country, T.O.P has been met with severe backlash, with the decision to cast him in a prestigious show being called into question.

Hwang Dong-hyuk, the creator and director of Squid Game, spoke out in defense of Seung-hun, clarifying that his performance speaks volumes about his talent as an actor. Dong-hyuk also added that the decision to keep T.O.P away from the promotional events of the show was a conscious one and had been decided way in advance. Here's everything we know.

Squid Game director Hwang Dong-hyuk praises T.O.P's performance

Hwang Dong-hyuk recently spoke in an interview with South Korean news outlet Sports Chosun, where he clarified his own take on the backlash surrounding T.O.P's casting. He stated:

"(Thanos) dies early on and doesn’t play a major role, so I didn’t think the character would be perceived as significant. Given the criticism from the initial casting stage, we concluded early on that including (TOP) in promotional activities would be difficult. It’s not a case where we initially planned to highlight him and then removed him due to public opinion. From the start, the plan was limited. I thought it would be best to let the character and his performance be judged once the series is released."

He further added:

"Thanos is intentionally portrayed as an exaggerated, self-absorbed character, akin to some rappers in (the reality competition) Show Me The Money who are comically larger-than-life. Given his drug use, he’s meant to be in a ‘high’ state, making him an over-the-top figure. I think (T.O.P) acted in line with my intentions for the character. While some in South Korea may find it excessive, younger viewers and international audiences might view it as memorable. The initial response shows that overseas audiences have responded more positively to Thanos than domestic viewers, highlighting cultural differences."

Dong-hyuk also remarked that he was taken aback by the backlash, when he mentioned:

"I researched the history of celebrities returning after marijuana-related scandals. Since the incident occurred about six to seven years ago, I thought enough time had passed for people to be more forgiving. I was surprised by the intensity of the reaction, but I couldn’t simply reject him outright. I decided to move forward and let his performance speak for itself. Ultimately, whether he’s accepted will depend on how the public perceives his work and if they’re willing to forgive him. That decision lies with the audience."

What was T.O.P's drug scandal all about?

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Seung-hun was involved in a drug scandal about nine years ago and was arrested for possessing marijuana, which is strictly illegal in South Korea. Following his trial, he was convicted and given a ten-month jail term along with a two-year suspension from his military service as a policeman in Seoul. In the aftermath of this scandal, Sequng-hun was blacklisted from the South Korean film industry and the second season of Squid Game marked his comeback after many years.

Squid Game season two is now streaming exclusively on Netflix.

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