Squid Game Halloween costumes are being banned by New York elementary schools. Released in September, Squid Game has quickly become a global phenomenon and one of Netflix’s most popular series of all time. Written and directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk, the survival thriller focuses on the deadly contest that involves 456 people from all walks of life, who become players in a series of children’s games to win the ultimate cash prize.
Starring Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Gong Yoo, Lee Byung-hun, and HoYeon Jung, Squid Game has solidified its place as a pop culture phenomenon. Recently, Squid Game Halloween costume sales have spiked, fans of the series have taken to social media to post Squid Game recreations, and it was reported that the popularity of Squid Game has led to fights on school playgrounds. Spanning nine shocking, violent, and visually alluring episodes, Squid Game features the players as they attempt to survive six well-known childhood games at the cost of their lives.
According to People, Squid Game Halloween costumes are being banned by several elementary schools in New York due to the show’s “violent message.” Reportedly, a school district in New York has taken action against allowing students to wear Squid Game-inspired outfits to school. Recently, numerous reports have surfaced of younger students replicating aspects of the show that are leading to violent tendencies and potentially dangerous behavior on school grounds. Check out the schools’ statement officially banning Squid Game Halloween costumes:
Staff members have recently noted that some students at recess have been mimicking games from Squid Game ... [which] is intended for mature audiences due to the violence depicted in the show. Because of this activity, our principals wanted to make sure our families are aware that it would be inappropriate for any student to wear to school a Halloween costume from this show because of the potential violent messages aligned with the costume.
For now, Squid Game Halloween costumes are not allowed at Mott Road, Enders Road, and Fayetteville Elementary schools in New York, and it remains to be seen if other schools around the country will follow suit. In response to younger students in schools being banned from sporting green tracksuits, red jumpsuits, or Squid Game’s signature masks, Netflix said in a statement, “Squid Game is rated TV-MA and intended for mature audiences. We offer parents a variety of parental controls to make the appropriate choices for their families.”
Recently, Netflix revealed that Squid Game had reached nearly two billion minutes in viewership, and the series shows no signs of slowing down. Of course, Squid Game continues to resonate with viewers for being so much more than a series about survival games. However, concerns continue to rise that children are not only recreating Red Light, Green Light, and Marbles but copying the storyline from the series that the losers of these games must endure violence. For now, it seems some elementary schools are treading cautiously this Halloween and keeping Squid Game costumes off the radar.
Source: People