Entertainment
The Idol’s future uncertain after backlash over The Weeknd’s ‘torture porn’ show-Alistair McGeorge-Entertainment – Metro
The show has sparked a lot of controversy.
The Weeknd recently responded to the controversy around the steamy series (Picture: HBO)
The Idol has already sparked plenty of controversy and now HBO have had to respond to rumours it’s facing the axe.
Described in its first promo as ‘the sleaziest love story in all of Hollywood’, the show has lived up to the tagline with countless scandalous scenes involving choking, masturbation and bodily fluids.
There has been a lot of backlash over the five-part series, which tells the story of self-help guru and modern-day cult leader, Tedros (The Weeknd), and his complicated relationship with rising pop star Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp).
There have been reports suggesting the show could be getting scrapped after one series – with just two episodes aired so far – but HBO has insisted no decision has been made on its future.
In a statement, HBO said: ‘It is being misreported that a decision on a second season of The Idol has been determined. It has not, and we look forward to sharing the next episode with you Sunday night.’
The first two episodes were panned by critics, with some labelling it ‘torture porn’, with some viewers slamming the explicit scenes.
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One person seethed: ‘Someone put the entire sex scene from the idol and.. let’s just say I lost respect for the weeknd I’m sorry I don’t care what you do but doing it on TV especially GRAPHICALLY is weird.’
The second episode, titled Double Fantasy, dials things up as the last five minutes shows a fully-clothed Tedros ordering a naked and blindfolded Jocelyn to fulfil his sexual fantasies.
The Idol has sparked plenty of backlash (Picture: HBO)
‘F*****g’ stretch that tiny, little p****,’ he says, and The Weeknd, real name Abel Tesfaye, has since responded to the controversy.
The musician and actor, who co-created and co-wrote the series, has insisted it was never meant to be sexy.
‘There’s nothing sexy about it,’ he told GQ.
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During the show, the characters are seen watching Basic Instinct, and Abel explained how the film was an inspiration for the show as while it contains moments of ‘sexy’, it is also ‘cheesy and hilarious’.
He added: ‘How ever you’re feeling watching that scene, whether it’s discomfort, or you feel gross, or you feel embarrassed for the characters. It’s all those emotions adding up to – this guy is in way over his head, this situation is one where he is not supposed to be here.’
The Idol continues on Sunday on HBO for US viewers and Sky for UK viewers.
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