
Image from Netflix Show
“Squid Game” has taken the world by storm, captivating audiences with its intense narrative and stark critique of societal inequalities. However, a recent trend inspired by the show’s ‘bread or lottery’ scene has sparked debate. Are we truly grasping the show’s message, or are we inadvertently perpetuating the very issues it seeks to highlight?
Table of Contents
The 'Bread or Lottery' Scene

Image from Netflix Show
In “Squid Game” Season 2, a character offers homeless individuals a choice between fresh bread and a lottery ticket. Most choose the lottery, hoping for a chance at a better life. The character then discards and stomps on the unchosen bread, symbolizing the illusion of choice and the desperation bred by systemic inequality.
Real-Life Imitations
Some influencers have recreated this scene with homeless individuals, offering them the same choice and replicating the bread-stomping act. These reenactments have been met with backlash, as they seem to exploit vulnerable people for entertainment, mirroring the very exploitation “Squid Game” criticizes.
Reel Video from Instagram
The Irony of Exploitation
By turning the ‘bread or lottery’ scenario into content, creators may be unintentionally embodying the role of the show’s antagonists—those who exploit the desperate for amusement. This raises ethical concerns about the commodification of real-life struggles and whether such actions undermine the show’s critique of capitalist exploitation.
Audience Responsibility
As viewers, it’s crucial to engage critically with media. “Squid Game” serves as a commentary on societal issues, and replicating its scenarios without understanding the underlying messages can lead to harmful misinterpretations. We must ask ourselves: Are we appreciating the show’s critique, or are we merely entertained by its dramatization of suffering?
Instead of reenacting scenes that depict exploitation, we should focus on addressing the real-world issues highlighted by “Squid Game.” This includes acknowledging systemic inequalities and supporting efforts to alleviate the conditions that lead individuals to desperate choices. By doing so, we honor the show’s message and contribute to meaningful change.
Real-Life Reenactments

Image from Netflix Show
Following the release of “Squid Game” Season 2, some content creators have taken to social media platforms to recreate the “bread or lottery” scene with real homeless individuals. For instance, TikToker Deeny Wrld’s video, which amassed over 22.7 million views, involved approaching homeless people and presenting them with the choice between bread and a lottery ticket, mirroring the show’s scenario. This reenactment closely mirrored the original scene, including the act of destroying the unchosen bread by stomping on it.

Image from Netflix Show
These actions have sparked significant backlash, with critics accusing the creators of exploiting vulnerable individuals for entertainment and social media engagement. Such reenactments are seen as dehumanizing, trivializing the real struggles of homelessness and poverty, and reducing serious social issues to mere content for views and likes. This phenomenon raises ethical concerns about the commodification of real-life struggles and whether such actions undermine the show’s critique of capitalist exploitation.