The Circle: What Happened To Shubham Goel After Season 1

The Circle’s Shubham Goel is a self-described, “Social Medusa.” Since his first stint on the show, the reality alum has become an IRL influencer.

Shubham “Shooby” Goel, who came in second place on Netflix’s The Circle season 1, was a fascinating player for many reasons. The show, which originally aired in January 2020, had a somewhat creepy appeal, due to the way that it mimicked the intense quarantined days of the COVID-19 pandemic. After all, this is a show about strangers living alone in separate apartments, completely isolated, and only communicating through a social media platform. The series became a huge hit almost overnight, giving the social experiment side of the show an even bigger impact. In fact, it was the social experiment element that compelled Shubham to enter The Circle in the first place.

The Indian-American ULCA grad, who was in his early 20s, entered The Circle season 1 cast, calling himself a, “Social Medusa.” Referring to social media as the Bubonic Plague of the digital era, Shubham cited many studies that highlight the negative impact that social media can have on mental health. He even launched a campaign with the Governor of California, to ban social media for children under the age of 18. So, when the opportunity arose to test his theories about social media, he couldn’t resist temptation. The experience quickly challenged Shubham’s thoughts about social sharing platforms, by giving him a unique way of connecting with others online.

Related: Why The Circle’s Singles Twist Works (& Why It Doesn’t)

The Circle’s Shubham Was Thrilled To Return

As one might expect, Shubham was ranked last among The Circle players on night one. However, in a fascinating twist, Shubham stayed true to himself and his word, by forming very real bonds with some key players. Shubham’s success and popularity led to his return for The Circle season 5, where he played as a catfish. He told Entertainment Weekly, “They reached out [to invite me back], and I was just so grateful to get the opportunity to come back and play the game that I love again, so I was stoked.” Although Shubham didn’t win, he maintained his status as a fan favorite.

The Circle’s Shubham May Return To Reality TV

Shubham’s authentic personality was visceral during both of his seasons of the show. His loyalty (and unique take on social media) led to him being one of the most-followed cast members from The Circle season 1. Though Shubham’s career lies in software engineering, he continues to love reality TV. He told EW, “I grew up on all these shows, so I just love them all.” He’s also taking classes on sketch comedy and improvisation on the side, hinting at a potential return to television.

Ultimately, Shubham says he wouldn’t change a thing about his time on The Circle. It revolutionized his life, and he thinks that everyone should watch the show. In his view, it’s an educational project that raises some good questions about the culture surrounding social media.

More: The Circle: What Happened To Sammie Cimarelli After Season 1

Sources: Entertainment Weekly