People are making strong connections between MrBeast's Beast Games and Netflix's Squid Game. Many say that MrBeast's show is just a copy of the South Korean drama and is not very original or ethical. The YouTuber's newest project, a reality competition on Amazon Prime Video, has 1,000 players competing in complex challenges to win $5 million.
MrBeast says his show is a tribute to Squid Game, but some think it doesn't capture the dark humor that was important in the original. Social media is full of opinions about this. There's also a legal issue: a lawsuit from September 2024 claims that contestants were treated badly, with emotional harm and not enough pay.
The show has sparked many discussions about what's right and wrong, and it has made people have different opinions, both viewers and critics.
Here, we look at the accusations, how it's like Squid Game, and what fans think about this controversial show.
Accusations of treating contestants unfairly
Beast Games started with serious accusations, as five contestants filed a lawsuit saying the production team didn't take good care of them. The Guardian reports that the 54-page document talks about claims of “serious emotional distress” and “inadequate compensation” for participants.
Participants shared stories of being treated poorly like allegedly being kept alone for a long time while filming and feeling a lot of mental stress during tough tasks.
In a similar situation, Netflix's Squid Game: The Challenge was criticized in 2023 because some players reportedly got very cold and sick. But Beast Games has been looked at more closely because it seems too much like Squid Game, making people wonder why it was even made that way.
Stuart Heritage from The Guardian talked about the show:
“One of the most undignified spectacles ever shown on TV.”
Did Beast Games copy Squid Game or show respect?
It's hard not to notice the similarities between Beast Games and Squid Game. Both have numbered players living together and challenges that require personal sacrifice. These connections seem very obvious.
MrBeast himself suggested the same in a tweet from 2021:
Squid Game uses its story to criticize the problems of inequality and unfair treatment, but Beast Games has been criticized for focusing only on showing off money and competition in a simple way, far from the complexities of reality.
The style of the show makes it different from the OG version. Squid Game makes fun of how capitalism can treat people badly, but Beast Games reportedly shows too much, often making the contestants' struggles more intense for entertainment.
One task in the show asked teams to choose someone to leave, which caused emotional arguments and what The Guardian called "adult tantrums."
The outcome? What people say is "ugly, tasteless TV."
Fan reactions to the ethical dilemmas
People have been talking a lot on social media about Beast Games and how they feel about it. Some are upset, while others are interested but unsure if it's a good idea.
User @iheartonda said,
“Beast Games is actually just Squid Game IRL... does anyone not think that’s really crazy?”
Meanwhile, @miles_tzu didn't like the idea at all:
“Mr. Beast recreating Squid Game after watching the show about rich people making poor people play games for the rich people's entertainment for a cash prize.”
Even though some people don't like it, other fans think the show is interesting because it has great production quality and exciting challenges. This makes them think of MrBeast's YouTube videos.
But some people are worried about the right and wrong things in the show.
@regissphilbin simply explained this problem:
“Squid Game (scripted) being turned into Squid Game (unscripted)... seems like everyone missed the entire point.”
This opinion matches other complaints that this show has turned human suffering into entertainment. However, the controversy hasn't stopped people from watching; its first two episodes have made it one of the most talked-about shows this year.
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Beast Games can be watched on Amazon Prime Video.
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