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On January 8, 2025, fans of T.O.P, a former member of BIGBANG, expressed their frustration on social media after his face was blurred during the January 7 episode of MBC’s 'Live This Morning.' The segment focused on Netflix's hit series Squid Game Season 2, its controversies, and its success.
During the broadcast, key scenes from the series were shown, but T.O.P, who portrays a character named Thanos, had his face censored with a blurring mosaic effect. This led to widespread criticism, with fans accusing the network of allegedly targeting T.O.P unfairly.
Although no explicit legal mandates exist requiring the censorship of convicted celebrities' faces, networks like MBC have internal policies that often lead to censoring personalities involved in legal cases.
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In T.O.P’s case, his involvement in Squid Game Season 2 reignited discussions about his past and his return to the public eye. An X user, @8KLIFE wrote:
"Squid Games 2 is full of criminals with crazy criminal records but MBC and Korean draw the line on smoking we*d ages ago. Talk about stupidity and ignorance. At this level they just hating top for the sake of hating, pity people."
For those unaware, the controversy surrounding T.O.P's casting stems from his past conviction related to mari*uana use (which is illegal in South Korea) in 2017 when he was sentenced to 10 months in prison, and suspended for 2 years. Fans took to social media to criticize MBC.
"I am trying to find their account to complain, bcz it's getting ridiculous but I can't find it ...if someone know it please share it," an X user wrote.
"this is f**king petty behavior because i've NEVER seen them do this with any other criminal celebrity still in the industry," another fan mentioned.
"but aint the whole cast weird like bruh…. there was a whole pedo…. bro smoked some weed and now its an issue so irritating," another netizen added.
Others pointed out that the entire male cast of Squid Game 2 consists of actors with alleged controversial backgrounds and accusations.
"One of the reasons why he will never come back with BIGBANG ever again.. Why would they do this?? If it's because he smokes w*ed.. why don't they blur Lee Jung Jae's face for DUI that could risk someone's life and he did it twice not once," another fan mentioned.
"don’t they find doing this embarrassing? like the whole world is laughing at you, country," another X user added.
"i genuinely feel so bad for top. like i don't even go here anymore but he is being treated so badly as compared to ACTUAL sa-ers and predators on cast. how tf do u care abt a smoker who harmed NO ONE but not actual women who were sa-ed and haramed by other cast members?," another fan commented.
More about the controversy surrounding BIGBANG's T.O.P's casting in Squid Game 2
Despite the personal challenges he faced and the criticism surrounding his acting, T.O.P’s role in Squid Game was largely well-received internationally, showcasing the global reach of the show. However, his reentry into the entertainment industry continues to be met with mixed reactions, particularly in South Korea.
In response to the ongoing debates, Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk commented on T.O.P’s casting. He acknowledged that while the casting choice had sparked significant backlash, he believed that T.O.P’s performance in the role of Thanos added value to the series. According to a report by People on December 28, 2024, the director said:
"Despite the long hiatus, I have to say, as a director, he performed very impressively and I'm very satisfied with what he did with the character."
Hwang also highlighted the cultural differences in the reception of the character, noting that while domestic reactions were divided, international audiences were more accepting of T.O.P’s portrayal.
The controversy surrounding the idol's inclusion in Squid Game 2 highlights ongoing debates in South Korea about how to handle celebrities with legal histories. While some fans feel the backlash is excessive, others believe that it is a reflection of the country’s complex relationship with fame and redemption.
As the show continues to garner attention worldwide, it remains to be seen whether the public perceptions of T.O.P will shift or if the tensions will persist.
