LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: HBO's 'The Idol' has been embroiled in controversies even before its release, and with only two episodes aired, the future of the show remains unclear. The HBO series, starring The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp, has faced backlash for including an excessive number of NSFW scenes.
The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, co-created the show centered around a pop singer who finds herself unable to resist falling in love with a cult leader. Despite facing backlash, the show's leading stars maintain a positive outlook on their experience and have defended the inclusion of graphic scenes in the series.
The Weeknd's 'egomaniacal' behavior on set
The Sun reported that a source who claimed to have worked on the sets of 'The Idol' reported having an unpleasant experience whenever The Weeknd was in character. In the show, The Weeknd portrays the role of Tedros, a cult leader, while Lily-Rose Depp takes on the role of Jocelyn, a pop star.
The alleged source described their experience of working with The Weeknd as less than ideal, expressing a lack of enthusiasm for repeating it. Additionally, another source reportedly referred to The Weeknd as 'egomaniacal'. However, conflicting reports and speculation have emerged regarding the renewal of 'The Idol' for a second season, with some sources indicating that it may not be renewed. HBO tweeted that "it is being misreported that a decision on a second season of The Idol has been determined. It has not." HBO added that "we look forward to sharing the next episode with you Sunday night".
The backlash against the graphic scenes
HBO has expressed a lack of surprise regarding the backlash received by 'The Idol', attributing it to the show being backed by Sam Levinson, the creator of 'Euphoria'. The series faced widespread criticism upon its debut at the Cannes Film Festival. The perspective of the show reportedly underwent changes during reshoots, which were influenced by The Weeknd's alleged demand for more focus on his character. Sam Levinson took over the directorial role after Amy Seimetz's departure. At the Cannes Film Festival, Lily-Rose Depp actively defended the nudity in the show, stating, "I think the occasional bareness of the character physically mirrors the bareness that we get to see emotionally in her, and that's something I felt was really important."
