Squid Game’s ‘Bread or Lottery’ Trend: Are We Missing the Point?

The popular show Squid Game was created as a critique of capitalism and greed. However, a new online trend inspired by the show is raising concerns about whether society is truly understanding its message.

In one scene from Squid Game Season 2, a character offers homeless people a choice: fresh bread or a lottery scratch card. Most of the people choose the lottery ticket.

The character then dumps the untouched bread onto the ground and stomps on it, saying, “I gave you a chance and you made your choice.” This scene highlights how people in desperate situations often make choices that go against their best interests because of the system they live in.

Recently, some online content creators have recreated this scene in real life, using homeless people to replicate the moment. They offer the same choice and then stomp on the bread. This has sparked backlash, with many criticizing the creators for exploiting vulnerable people for entertainment.

Some viewers defend the trend, arguing that the homeless people made their choice by picking the lottery ticket. However, this ignores the deeper message of Squid Game — that the real issue is the system that forces people to make such difficult choices in the first place.

The creators of these videos miss the point of the show. In Squid Game, the characters are trapped in a system where they are forced to compete for survival, much like how society forces the poor to make impossible choices. The videos ignore the broader issues of inequality and exploitation.

The Squid Game franchise is a reflection of how greed and selfishness shape society. Its creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, has said that human greed is what drives capitalism, and it’s this greed that creates unfair systems.

While it’s fine to enjoy the show, viewers should understand its critique of society and not mimic its harmful messages in real life.

As viewers, we have the choice to engage with the show in a thoughtful way. Instead of copying the show’s most shocking moments for views, we should focus on its deeper message about kindness, fairness, and the need to question the systems that control us.