“Emmys” Spark Racism Accusations After Shocking “Squid Game” Snub
The 77th Emmy Awards nominations were announced on July 15 and stunned television fans worldwide, most notably by excluding Squid Game season 2 and 3 from every category.
While both seasons received their fair share of criticism, there were also many aspects that were widely liked. Squid Game 2 earned widespread acclaim for its intricate production design, hand-crafted sets, and strong performances. Season 3, released June 27, also captured attention by finally concluding the captivating story, but neither received a single nomination.
While several shows like Severance (with 27 nods), The Penguin, and The White Lotus dominated the night, seasoned favorites like Squid Game, House of the Dragon, and The Handmaid’s Tale were entirely shut out. For Squid Game, the decline is sharp. Season 1 earned 14 nominations and six wins — including directing and acting honors — while season 2’s zero nods mark a dramatic reversal.
Netflix’s content chief calls it “surprising” that “Squid Game” didn’t land an #Emmy nomination.
"I think if you’re really looking at excellence in television and excellence in storytelling, it is in every single way. So when you deliver that, yes, it’s surprising when it… pic.twitter.com/LtlUmSvyhn
— Variety (@Variety) July 15, 2025
Fans erupted online, accusing the Television Academy of bias. Many pointed out that despite Squid Game’s lavish attention to art direction and its global cultural impact, it failed to secure recognition in major behind‑the‑scenes categories for season 2. Others argued the show’s complete absence on the ballot felt like a dismissal of non‑English language media.
Squid Game going from 14 Emmy nominations and 6 wins for Season 1 to ZERO nominations for Season 2 is brutal lmao
— Kevin Jacobsen (@Kevin_Jacobsen) July 15, 2025
squid game getting zero emmy nominations is insane but gong yoo not getting one for playing the salesman is actually worse
pic.twitter.com/b8DxeLGYLC https://t.co/6J4rjZTumi
— ً (@lethkook) July 15, 2025
Some even dubbed the snub “racism,” citing the Academy’s embrace of niche English-language comedies over world‑class international productions.
emmy's has 16 categories. a comedy show none of us heard of has 23 nominations and severence has 27. squid game has hand painted sets and it didn't even get a SINGLE nomination despite the hype despite the effort despite the praise in acting. this is racism. FUCK you @TheEmmys
— mengu¹² ☁️ the inhun messiah (@anubiskuit) July 15, 2025
The controversy also weighs heavily on director Hwang Dong Hyuk’s legacy. His speech following his Emmy win for directing the “Red Light, Green Light” episode has resurfaced following the snub.
I truly hope Squid Game won’t be the last non‑English series to be here at the Emmys & I also hope this won’t be my last Emmy either… I’ll be back with a season 2.
— Hwang Dong Hyuk
“i truly hope squid game wont be the last non-english series to be here in the emmys & i also hope this wont be my last emmy either~ i’ll be back with a season 2”
-hwang dong hyuk pic.twitter.com/Pg2CYuYUuP— leejj🧋| SQUID GAME’s OOMF 🦑 (@cndrwfrth) July 16, 2025
While Netflix has endured dips in Emmy nominations before, the absence of both Squid Game seasons remains a sore point among viewers for now.
