After months of controversy, The Weeknd’s eyebrow raising series The Idol is finally available to stream – and fans viewers have plenty to say.
The story follows troubled pop idol Jocelyn (Lily-Rose), who becomes enamored with self-help guru Tedros (The Weeknd), the seedy leader of a modern-day cult.
All eyes have been on the upcoming five-part series, which promised to be the ‘sleaziest love story in all of Hollywood’.
After fans tuned into the first episode titled Pop Tarts & Rat Tales, several were stunned to see Lily’s character Jocelyn naked within the first five minutes.
One person wrote: ‘They gotta have jocelyn almost naked every scene for whaaaaaaat [sic] .’
‘I just watched the first episode of #THEIDOL and my god, i was wrong, I thought is was going to be bad, but nothing could have prepared me for how really bad it was going to be. Like at least make me feel entertained, but nope, just boring and thinking 10 ways to make it better,’ another seethed.
While some weren’t here for the sexually charged scenes, others were impressed by the deep storyline behind it.
‘I don’t know why people giving the idol such a bad rap, it’s telling a very real story of the behind the scenes in the industry. How many artists we saw crumble under the bright lights and glitter? most famously:Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Bynes, Miley, Mariah Carey,’ one person wrote.
‘Didn’t dislike #THEIDOL. Not the most riveting but LDR and Sennott’s performances kept me hooked. Also what I suspected is true – a lot of the bad press is just weird. This is not even HBO’s top three explicit shows,’ another added.
Before the series even premiered, the show made headlines for the wrong reasons when a damning report by Rolling Stone claimed that the programme was in ‘turmoil’ behind the scenes over the exit of original director Amy Seimetz.
It’s said this led to multiple reshoots and script changes, with claims that director Sam ‘dialed up the disturbing sexual content and nudity’ upon his arrival.
However, The Weeknd – real name Abel Tesfaye – fiercely clapped back at the criticism.
He was initially called out for his ‘inappropriate’ response – after he shared a clip from the series branding the publication ‘irrelevant’ after the report emerged.
The Blinding Lights hitmaker told Vanity Fair: ‘I thought the article was ridiculous.
‘I wanted to give a ridiculous response to it.’
The first episode of The Idol is available to stream on NOW and Sky Atlantic.
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