“Squid Game: The Challenge” Forced To Use Condom Lube When Chapstick Wasn’t Available

Contestants on “Squid Game: The Challenge” were so desperate for chapstick that they began using condom lubricant for their lips during filming. 

Participants on the game show, which is inspired by the hit Netflix series, were all dealing with dry lips inside their dorm with very little relief. Each player was given items such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, and hand sanitizer in their complimentary toiletry bags. Oddly enough, condoms were provided by production but not lip balm. When the chapped lips became too much to bear, contestants began unwrapping the condoms and smothering the lub on their mouths. 

Player Trey Plutnicki confirmed the odd set of circumstances to Entertainment Weekly, though Plutnicki maintained he had no part in the lube action. Instead, he tried alternative methods to soothe his lips. 

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“There was lotion, there was conditioner, and those were the first two tries. And after I tried those and they weren’t working, I was like, ‘Well, that’s all of our options because obviously we’re not going to use the condoms.’ And within a day, maybe a day and a half, all the condoms were gone. It was absurd. And it still didn’t work!” he shared with the outlet. 

Eventually, production provided its contestants with tins of lip balm with their player numbers on it following the chaos. The initial lack of chapstick was due to the show banning a long list of personal items. Instead, they were offered the bare minimum in personal care items to get through filming. While a quirky twist, Netflix and the game show have bigger fish to fry after several contestants acquired legal representation with plans to sue the show over injuries sustained during filming.