Squid Game: The Challenge might be proving a hit with viewers, but some contestants who took part in the show are reportedly threatening legal action against Netflix and the producers - claiming the tough filming conditions left them with hypothermia and nerve damage.
There were so many smash hit Netflix series over lockdown that it’s difficult to bring them all to mind - but one of the most standout was Squid Game, the deadly Korean cinema series which saw characters fight to the death (literally) to win a prize of 45.6billion.
It didn't exactly scream reality spin-off, but it wasn't long before Netflix took it to the next level by bringing in real life people, to compete for real life money. £3.61m to be exact. But while it skimped out on the gruesome killings, some of the contestants who took part in the series are now complaining about the harsh filming conditions they encountered.
A British personal injuries firm, Express Solicitors, said it was representing two unnamed players from Squid Game: The Challenge. It's said the players did not know that they would be risking their health by crouching still for long periods of time, whilst taking part in cold temperatures.
According to a source who competed in the opening game of Red Light, Green Light, (which sees players try to beat a robotic doll by sneaking up on her without moving), filming the scene was 'like a warzone. People left in tears.'
‘Even if hypothermia kicked in, people were willing to stay for as long as possible because a lot of money was on the line. Too many were determined not to move so they stood there for far too long. There were people arriving thinking they were going to be millionaires but they left in tears.’
‘People were getting carried out by medics but we couldn’t say anything. If you talk then you’re out. Some people couldn’t move their feet because it was so cold. You could hear someone yell "medic" and the crew would rush on. We ended up standing there for 30 minutes between takes. Some were crawling by the end. At least one was carried out on a stretcher.’
In all, it's said that Red Light, Green Light took around seven hours to complete.
There's no doubt that the 456 contestants were facing a tough challenge while taking part in the real-life version of Squid Game. Filming took place at Cardington Studios, a Bedfordshire-based former Royal Air Force base. At the time of filming, Britain was experiencing a cold patch in the weather.
Netflix confirmed that three of the 456 contestants received medical treatment during filming, but stated that any 'claims of serious injury are untrue.' With medics on hand and extreme conditions expected from the get-go, Netflix has insisted that participant safety was always their utmost priority.
‘We care deeply about the health and safety of our cast and crew, and invested in all the appropriate safety procedures,’ producers said in a statement. ‘While it was very cold on set — and participants were prepared for that — any claims of serious injury are untrue.’
Daniel Slade, the CEO of Express Solicitors, said, 'Contestants thought they were taking part in something fun and those injured did not expect to suffer as they did. Now they have been left with injuries after spending time being stuck in painful stress positions in cold temperatures.'
Slade described how one client saw another contestant faint, adding 'We have a case where someone complains of hypothermia. One had his hands turn purple from the cold.'