‘They didn’t just pick us up off the street!’ Meet the globally derided Squid Game VIPs
Squid Game is a sensation. A violent Korean drama that mixes childhood nostalgia with vast amounts of death, the series has surpassed all expectations to become the most successful show in Netflix history. It has made global stars of its main cast overnight. That is, with a few notable exceptions.
‘Why is Squid Game’s English-Language Acting So Bad?’ demanded one recent headline, echoing the sentiment of hundreds of tweets and memes. The culprits are the “VIPs” – four English-speaking, mask-wearing billionaires who watch the action from afar, placing bets on the outcome of the carnage. To the naysayers, the VIP acting in Squid Game is stilted and mannered, and pulls them out of the show. But who are the people behind the masks?
“I’ve written more books about the Beatles than anyone on this planet!” bellows Geoffrey Giuliano over Zoom from his home in Bangkok. You’ll know him as VIP four, the only member of the group to remove
