T.O.P, a South Korean rapper and actor who was previously one of the visuals and lead rappers of the famous K-pop boy group BigBang, will not be participating in promotional interviews for the highly anticipated second season of the Netflix series, "Squid Game." Previously, there had been a lot of fans talking about T.O.P playing the role of Thanos in the series. however, his name was not listed on the schedule of cast members who would interact with the media. Why T.O.P Excluded from 'Squid Game 2'
Let's find out why
What Controversy Involved T.O.P in the Past?
This decision seems to have been made in response to the public's reaction to the controversy he was involved in in the past. The controversy took place in 2016 when T.O.P was involved in a legal case related to illegal marijuana use, which disappointed and even caused major criticism from South Korean netizens. Although he has apologized, the negative stigma associated with the incident still affects his career as an actor, especially in a culture that is very demanding of public figures or idols to maintain their behavior.
T.O.P’s Absence as a Strategic Decision
The decision not to schedule T.O.P for the promotion of "Squid Game 2" caused mixed reactions from fans and netizens. Still, this absence was also considered a good move and a strategy to avoid negative attention that could arise during the promotion. Fans highly anticipate the second season of the series. Although T.O.P’s involvement is a major milestone in his acting career, this decision was the right one to maintain a successful promotion. "Squid Game 2" is scheduled to air on Netflix on December 26, 2024, following the overwhelming success of the first season.