Squid Game: The Challenge reality series denies claims of ‘serious injury’ on set
Anonymous contestants have spoken out slamming the conditions of set
Netflix's production team behind Squid Game: The Challenge has hit back at claims the show is dangerous after contestants branded the show "inhumane".
The series, which will be a "real-life" version of the South Korean dystopian drama, is currently filming in the UK, and recreates the deadly games where contestants fight for $4.56million (£3.7million).
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However, after claims treatment on the set for the contestants was "inhumane" – including competing in sub-zero temperatures – Netflix has responded denying the accusations.
“We care deeply about the health of our cast and crew, and the quality of this show. Any suggestion that the competition is rigged or claims of serious harm to players are simply untrue," Studio Lambert, the show's production team released in a statement (via Variety).
"We’ve taken all the appropriate safety precautions, including after care for contestants – and an independent adjudicator is overseeing each game to ensure it’s fair to everyone.”
In the original Netflix series, 456 players fight for the life-changing sum of money through playing childhood games. But if they were eliminated, they were immediately killed in the process.
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Squid Game: The Challenge will see 456 real-life contestants from around the world go through simiilar games, only without the lethal consequence.
However, as filming has continued, several players from across the world, who have remained anonymous, have come forward to complain about the conditions of the set.
The recreation of the iconic Red Light, Green Light game - where players attempt to race across a finish line without being caught by a strange doll telling them when to go, or stop and freeze - has had particular claims made against it.
According to Variety, contestants claim they were forced to stay frozen for up to 26 minutes at a time, instead of the agreed two-minute maximum, with filming for the game going on for seven hours.
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The seven-hour stretch occurred after an eight-hour prep time ahead of the game itself.
One anonymous names claim medics were called up to eight times as contestants struggled with a combination of exhaustion from the long day and the freezing-cold temperatures the UK was going through at the time.
Another source claims they weren't allowed to go for toilet breaks or have a drink while the game was in session.
“This is not a Bear Grylls survival show,” one said. “If they had told us it was going to be that cold, no one would have gone through with it.”
“It’s not like we signed up for Survivor or Naked and Afraid,” said another. "The conditions were absolutely inhumane and had nothing to do with the game.”
Squid Game: The Challenge airs on Netflix later this year.
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