The Weeknd has defended his controversial new show The Idol, following backlash over sex scenes.
The Weeknd, whose actual name is Abel Tesfaye, co-created and co-wrote the HBO series in which he also plays as Tedros, the shady head of a modern-day cult who meets damaged pop sensation Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp).
The five-part series, which bills itself as “Hollywood’s sleaziest love tale,” features scandalous scenes including masturbating, choking, and a subplot involving a photo of Jocelyn with bodily fluids on her face.
In the second instalment titled Double Fantasy, the last five minutes shows a fully-clothed Tedros ordering a naked and blindfolded Jocelyn to fulfil his sexual fantasies. At one stage, he says: ”F*****g’ stretch that tiny, little p****.’
However, Abel, 33, has insisted it was never meant to be sexy.
‘There’s nothing sexy about it,’ he stated.
We saw the characters watching Basic Instinct during the programme, and he added that this was an influence since, while it contains’sexy’ moments, it is also ‘cheesy and amusing.’
‘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,’ he explained to GQ.
Critics had already blasted the first two episodes, branding it “torture porn.”
Several people have slammed the explicit scenes, with one person seething: ‘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.’
i’m never going to see the weeknd the same again after seeing these clips from the idol.. pic.twitter.com/xHv3eG6jpJ
— chey⚡️ (@meloismone) June 12, 2023
‘I’m never going to see the weeknd the same again after seeing these clips from the idol..’ another added.
Abel stated that he was ‘enjoying’ the reception in general.
‘It’s definitely shook up the culture,’ he remarked with a giggle.
‘We knew we were making something dark and controversial but true to what we want to say.’
Lily Rose, 24, is also said to have the backing of her father, Johnny Depp.
A source shared: ‘Johnny loves that Lily is carving out a career of her own and challenging herself to take on roles that interest her and test her.’
The insider added to Mail Online: ‘He believes that she must be doing something right since the role is getting so much attention, and he is proud of her success.’
The first two episodes of The Idol is available to stream on NOW and .
