“Y'all casted 2-3 sexual offenders” — Internet divided over Squid Game 2’s failed win at 2025 Golden Globes Awards amid ongoing cast controversies

The 82nd Golden Globe Awards, held on January 5, 2025, concluded with notable surprises and ensuing debates, particularly surrounding Netflix's Squid Game Season 2. Despite its significant cultural impact and anticipation, the series did not secure any awards, leading to a polarized response from netizens.

Squid Game Season 2 received nominations in the following categories:

• Best Television Series – Drama
• Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama: Lee Jung-jae

In the Best Television Series – Drama category, the award was claimed by Shōgun, a series that has garnered critical acclaim for its storytelling and production quality. Lee Jung-jae, nominated for Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama, was surpassed by Jeremy Allen White for his performance in Disney+'s The Bear.

Squid Game Season 2's failure to secure awards has been met with mixed reactions online. Some netizens expressed disappointment, citing controversies surrounding the casting choices. Allegations have surfaced accusing certain cast members of past misconduct such as actor O Yeong-su, who played the character of Oh Il-nam—the game creator in the series.

Comments such as "Y'all casted 2-3 s*xual offenders" reflect the sentiments of viewers who believe that these controversies may have influenced the show's reception among award committees. The fan wrote on X:

"Will say deserved! F*ck the good storyline, y'all casted 2-3 s*xual offenders and expected awards?? Karma exists F*ckkk y'all fr"

An online user expressed disappointment over the show's casting choices. (Image via X/@domixxxn)

Conversely, fans of the series argued that the artistic merits of Squid Game should be evaluated after it has passed some time on the platforms. Netizens underscored that the show was released 10 days before and hence wasn't even eligible for the nominations.

"Cause it wasn’t eligible for nominations since it was just released lol," one netizen wrote.

"The show is literally raw and hasn't been a month, yet y'all already expect wins for s2," another fan added.

"Deserved for that ending," one other netizen stressed.

Similar sentiments and reactions flooded social media.

"It was nominated in ONE single category and it hasn't even marinated yet. No one expected it to win and Shogun was the rightful winner," one netizen stated.

"Girl…it literally just came out, they weren’t even eligible to be nominated…" another fan said.

"The show barely marinated my god," one other netizen commented.

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More about Squid Game actor O Yeong-su being charged with s*xual misconduct

O Yeong-su, the 79-year-old South Korean actor renowned for his role as Oh Il-nam in Netflix's Squid Game, has been found guilty of s*xual misconduct by the Seongnam Branch of the Suwon District Court.

The charges stem from incidents in 2017, during which O Yeong-su was accused of inappropriately touching a woman without her consent. The court found that he had hugged the woman and kissed her on the cheek against her will. These actions occurred while O Yeong-su stayed in a village for a theatre performance.

On March 15, 2024, the court sentenced O Yeong-su to an eight-month prison term, suspended for two years. Additionally, he has been ordered to attend 40 hours of s*xual violence treatment programs. The court's decision reflected the gravity of the offense while considering factors that led to the suspended sentence.

O Yeong-su has consistently denied the allegations as per BBC's report on March 15, 2024. Following the verdict, he expressed his intention to appeal the decision. He has seven days from the date of sentencing (March 15, 2024) to file the appeal, during which the current ruling remains in effect.

The 79-year-old actor gained international acclaim for his portrayal of Oh Il-nam, also known as Player 001, in Squid Game. His performance earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film in 2022, making him the first South Korean actor to win in that category.

The conviction cast a shadow over his celebrated career, raising discussions about accountability and the consequences of personal actions on professional achievements.

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Squid Game Season 2 overview, plot, cast, and more

Squid Game Season 2 premiered on Netflix on December 26, 2024, comprising seven episodes. The season continued the harrowing narrative of the deadly competition, introducing new games and complex character arcs. The storyline delved deeper into the origins of the game and the enigmatic Front Man.

As the season unfolded, alliances were tested, and moral boundaries were pushed. In the climactic finale, protagonist Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) survived, while several new characters met tragic ends, leaving viewers in suspense about the future direction of the series.

The second season features a blend of recurring and new cast members, including big names from the South Korean industry such as:

• Lee Jung-jae as Seong Gi-hun
• Lee Byung-hun as the Front Man
• Gong Yoo as the Salesman
• Park Gyu-young as No-eul
• Jo Yuri as Jun-hee (Player 222)
• Wi Ha-joon as Hwang Jun-ho
• Im Si-wan as Lee Myung-gi (Player 333
• Kang Ha-neul as Kang Dae-ho (Player 388)
• Lee Jin-wook as Park Gyeong-seok (Player 246)
• Park Sung-hoon as Cho Hyun-ju (Player 120)
• Yang Dong-geun as Park Yong-sik (Player 007)
• Kang Ae-shim as Jang Geum-ja (Player 149)
• Lee Seo-hwan [ko] as Jung-bae (Player 390)

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Despite the current controversies, the franchise is set to continue. Squid Game Season 3 is reportedly aiming for a global release on June 27, 2025 as per India Hood's report.

Rumors are circulating about potential new cast members in season 3, including BTS member Kim Taehyung (V). While these reports have generated excitement among fans, official confirmations are yet to be made.