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Fans of T.O.P, a member of the iconic K-pop group BIGBANG and a cast member in Squid Game season 2, rallied to his defense amid a wave of negative reviews targeting his performance in the series. The inclusion of T.O.P in Squid Game season 2 sparked heated debates among fans, critics, and media outlets.
While director Hwang Dong Hyuk firmly defended the casting choice, stating that "this character and work had to go to T.O.P," the decision has drawn polarizing reactions since the season’s premiere. However, criticism came from South Korean media outlets, with MBC labeling T.O.P's character as "unbearable" and questioning the need for casting someone with past controversies.
The character’s parallels to T.O.P's real-life struggles and his alleged lack of acting finesse were highlighted as factors disrupting viewers’ immersion. Reports from JoyNews and Newsis echoed similar sentiments, expressing confusion about why the role wasn’t given to a fresh, talented rookie actor.
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Amid this backlash, fans of the idol-turned-actor stepped up to defend him. Many accused media outlets of perpetuating a smear campaign, revisiting T.O.P's prior controversies rather than focusing on his performance. One fan commented,
"the international media is all praising him and saying he was the best character of the season and then there comes the kmedia talking sh*t about him. they’re still invested in a smear campaign against him. get over it, you losers!"
"He doesn’t even show up till episode 3. That’s three hours into the show. You posted this at 5pm. The MINUTE it was released. These paid articles to defame him are so f**** annoying. TOP is being praised worldwide for his performance!" said a viewer.
"Did we all watch the same drama? Cause for me he was one of the few things that are good in this otherwise utterly boring season of Squid Game," posted a netizen.
"the hate directed at TOP is unreal and clearly targeted only at him. what’s shocking is how coordinated it all seems—the release time was 5 PM, and by 5:01, trash articles about him alone were flooding the media," mentioned an X user.
Many took to social media to voice their strong support, highlighting his acting skills and commending his performance in Squid Game season 2.
"Koreans will ignore s*x offenders and p*dophiles but obsess over TOP. Y’all can be so uncivilized, this isn’t normal and PANN f*** you for highlighting those lunatics," shared an individual on X.
"C’mon! TOP is a scene stealer. S2 is boring without him. His character is very annoying and funny at the same time. I like every scenes with him and Siwan," noted one more viewer of Squid Game.
"His character was the most annoying a****le ever, and that just shows how good he was at playing Thanos because f***, I wanted to rip my hair out, posting articles of him when the show had just realesed when he appeared until ep 3 f*** you," wrote one more X user.
"UNDERWHELMING? did we watch the same series? I'm not biased but come on??? he delivers well just tell us you want to cancel him that much. This is why I cheer every time Thanos delivers his line in english pffft!!!!!" added this individual on X.
Squid Game Season 2 casting of T.O.P faces intense scrutiny and criticism
Since the announcement of T.O.P’s inclusion in Squid Game season 2, the artist has faced mixed reactions. While his fans celebrated his return to the spotlight, detractors have consistently highlighted his past struggles, including his hiatus from the entertainment industry and public scrutiny over personal matters.
In the face of backlash, fans emphasized the importance of separating T.O.P's past from his current achievements. Many took to social media to express their unwavering support, defending his efforts to rebuild his career and praising his courage in taking on a challenging role in a high-profile project.
Squid Game's writer-director, Hwang, previously at the face of the skeptical media reports about the idol's acting debut, emphasized that the decision to cast T.O.P was not taken lightly, stating,
"We decided that we had no choice but to prove to the viewers through the final result as to why this character and work had to go to T.O.P. That was why we did not cancel it and pressed through with it."
However, detractors remain unconvinced, with media outlets questioning the decision, suggesting that the former BigBang member's presence detracts from the sequel’s potential.
MBC’s Kim Kyung Hee criticized the actor’s portrayal of his character, Thanos, stating that his screen time felt excessive and, at times, unbearable. The choice to cast T.O.P in this role, which involves a character who uses drugs, was seen as problematic due to the overlap with his real-life controversies, particularly his past conviction for marijuana use.
The critic pointed out that his acting performance was lackluster, describing it as awkward and unsettling. Furthermore, the character’s rap-heavy lines were difficult to understand, and his mere presence on screen was described as unappealing.
JoyNews echoed these concerns, questioning Squid Game Director Hwang Dong Hyuk’s rationale behind casting T.O.P. The critic raised doubts about the necessity of casting someone with a criminal record for such a role.
Newsis further fueled the speculation, suggesting that T.O.P’s casting may have been influenced by his connections within the Squid Game production team. The outlet pointed out particularly his past conflicts with fans and his lengthy hiatus from acting.
Despite the controversy, T.O.P’s global fanbase continues to support him, with many defending his acting and performance in the season.
T.O.P’s portrayal of Thanos, a troubled rapper with a tragic backstory, has emerged as one of the standout performances in Squid Game season 2. The character finds himself drowning in a debt of 1.19 billion won after being swayed by Myeong-gi, a cryptocurrency-investing YouTuber played by Im Si-wan. Viewers have lauded the seamless blend of T.O.P’s real-life musical background with the role, adding depth and a sense of genuine relatability to the character.
Squid Game season 2, now streaming worldwide on Netflix since December 26, 2024, ups the stakes with a prize of 45.6 billion KRW and a new group of desperate contestants. Lee Jung-jae returns as Seong Gi-hun, who, three years after his initial victory, re-enters the deadly game to uncover its secrets. Wi Ha-joon reprises his role as police officer Jun-ho, continuing his search for his missing brother, In-ho.
The new season introduces fresh faces, including Im Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, Lee Jin-wook, and Park Sung-hoon, as director Hwang Dong-hyuk explores deeper emotional and personal stakes among the contestants.
