‘Squid Game 2’ T.O.P on Acting Controversy “Calculated Intention to Portray Shin-chan’s Mental Age and a Hip-hop Loser”

T.O.P (real name Choi Seung-hyun), formerly of BIGBANG, shared his thoughts on playing Thanos in Netflix’s original series “Squid Game” Season 2. During an interview on the morning of January 15 in Sogyeok-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, T.O.P addressed the controversy surrounding his acting, “I humbly accept it as something natural.“

“Squid Game” Season 2 follows Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), who returns to the game seeking revenge, and his fierce confrontation with the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), as well as the resumption of the deadly game. The immense success of Season 1, which became Netflix’s most-watched series globally, prompted the creation of the sequel.

In this work, T.O.P plays Thanos, a former runner-up in a hip-hop survival competition whose unpredictable and erratic behavior leaves others bewildered. His exaggerated acting and awkward rap skills stirred up controversy, but according to T.O.P, these were intentional choices for the character.

T.O.P explained, “I had extensive discussions with the director, and this character was meticulously designed. In the script, Thanos was intended to break the heavy and dark atmosphere with his cartoonish, unrealistic nature. He was set up as a failed individual, a ‘hip-hop loser’, rather than a glamorous or cool rapper. As a character dependent on substances, I intentionally portrayed him as ridiculous and lacking in seriousness.“

Regarding the rap, he shared, “The rap was in the script. It had even more words originally. The scene itself was meant to be absurd and grotesque, so I tried to express it accordingly.”

T.O.P candidly admitted, “I’m in my late 30s, and acting as someone with the mental age of Shin-chan was both embarrassing and cringe-worthy for me. But it was my role, so I did my best.”

During the interview, T.O.P also confirmed a widely discussed incident where he fractured his rib during filming. He said, “It’s true I fractured my rib during a fight scene. I received simple treatment and carried on. Many people were performing action scenes in bathroom sequences, so I felt a sense of responsibility to give my best effort.” He added, “Siwan has extensive experience with action scenes, so I leaned on him a lot, and we supported each other with a positive attitude during filming.”

There was also a story on online communities that T.O.P performed a dance from BIGBANG’s choreography in the “Round and Round” scene. Addressing this, he clarified, “That dance is actually similar to a traditional American cowboy dance. Given Squid Game’s global audience, I instinctively did the dance, but it wasn’t meant to reference BIGBANG.“

Besides, T.O.P shared the story behind his casting in “Squid Game 2”. After a period of deep contemplation, his ultimate decision was inspired by director Hwang Dong-hyuk.

He revealed that his hiatus wasn’t voluntary but due to a lack of offers. He explained, “No offers came my way during that time. For 10 years, nobody paid attention to me. Director Hwang’s faith in me motivated me to gain confidence and accept the role.” 

However, he admitted that playing a character dependent on drugs was burdensome. “I had many concerns because this character required me to confront my past mistakes and shameful history. I worried about being typecast or having my image permanently tied to this role. There were moments when I considered stepping down, feeling broken inside. But Director Hwang’s guidance and confidence in designing the character with me gave me the courage to proceed. It wasn’t an easy decision, and I carried a heavy heart.“

Reflecting on his tumultuous 20s, T.O.P said, “Looking back, my 20s were glorious and filled with gratitude. I received so much love but made grave mistakes. The fall and collapse I experienced were unprecedented for me. I was mentally devastated, extremely dark, and utterly broken. My judgment was impaired, and I made terrible decisions. I still feel ashamed and believe I must reflect on them for the rest of my life. I am deeply sorry to everyone I hurt.”