'Squid Game' Creator Claps Back At LeBron James' Criticism Of The Show's Ending

Hwang Dong-hyuk, the creator of the renowned series "Squid Game," isn't taking negative vibes from anyone when it comes to his show, even if it's the legendary LeBron James.

It all began when the NBA player disclosed during a press conference after a preseason game that he didn't like how the Korean series ended.

While chatting with fellow NBA player Anthony Davis about the famous series in front of the press, LeBron was heard saying, "yeah, I didn't like the ending tho." The Lakers player believed that the character Gi-hun should have gotten on a flight instead of trying to return to the game.

Although LeBron's opinion seemed harmless, Hwang didn't appreciate it and seemingly dissed the NBA star during a recent interview with The Guardian.

During the interview, Hwang was asked what he thought of LeBron's words, and he used the chance to slam the athlete's recent sports comedy flick, "Space Jam: A New Legacy." The Seoul native said:

Have you seen Space Jam 2? LeBron James is cool and can say what he wants. I respect that. I’m very thankful he watched the whole series. But I wouldn’t change my ending.

The creator continued, challenging LeBron to make a sequel of his own if he had another ending that would satisfy him. Hwang also promised  to watch "Space Jam 2" and message the basketballer, "I liked your whole show, except the ending."

In the same interview, the filmmaker spoke about his net worth following the success of the show. When asked by the interviewer if he was as rich as the contestant who took home the 45.6 billion won prize (about $38 million), Hwang answered that he wasn't.

The South Korean screenwriter said that he had enough money to provide for himself, but he wasn't super-wealthy as Netflix didn't offer him any bonus despite the staggering success "Squid Game." Instead, he was paid only according to the original contract.

While Hwang didn't disclose his exact net worth, The Blast previously reported that actress HoYeon Jung, who played the role of Kang Sae-byeok, has quite a considerable net worth.

Jung, who made her debut in the 2021 K-drama series, is worth $4 million. Her wealth was accumulated not only from the prominent series but her modeling career. Jung has worked for big brands like Versace, Hermes, and Sephora. She is also an ambassador for Louis Vuitton.