The Idol is the most controversial series of the mid-2023 period, due to its sensitive scenes, receiving low scores from critics, as well as the presence of Jennie – a member of BLACKPINK. However, the focal point of criticism from the audience towards the series is still the inappropriate 18+ elements on screen. Recently, Page Six also revealed that the lead actress, Lily-Rose Depp, was forced by the director to perform a provocative scene.
Specifically, according to an exclusive report from Page Six, director Sam Levinson ordered The Weeknd and lead actress Lily-Rose Depp to perform a shocking intimate scene. The incident left the entire series crew on that day feeling extremely uncomfortable and unsettled. This scene was supposed to be incorporated into Episode 4 of The Idol, but it was ultimately cut.
According to information shared by a crew member with Page Six, the scene depicted the main female character, Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp), being coerced by Tedros (The Weeknd). The explicit segment was filmed in the actual Bel Air mansion bathroom, which belongs to The Weeknd in real life. Levinson unexpectedly made this request, obligating the lead actors to perform the scene, and he enthusiastically guided them.
The representative shared with Page Six that during the screening of the cut scene from The Idol, Levinson watched the lead actors on the monitor and burst out laughing, then fed The Weeknd a few lines like “You belong to me.” This scene was intended to lead to Jocelyn becoming pregnant later on but was cut due to some changes in the script and storyline.
Lily-Rose Depp was revealed to have gone through a challenging period during filming, but she still went along with it for the overall purpose of the series. The Weeknd displayed concerning behavior towards his co-star, but fortunately, it was only acting, and nothing regrettable occurred.
Perhaps thanks to this decision, Episode 4 of The Idol has received much praise and high ratings from the audience. It is considered the best episode since the show premiered on HBO, with most of the characters receiving high acclaim. Jennie’s role as Dyanne garnered viewers’ affection as she did much better.
Despite the controversies and widespread boycott, The Idol still achieved notable achievements, such as having the highest social media buzz since the beginning of 2022, surpassing even Netflix’s hit Wednesday or the game adaptation film The Last of Us. The upcoming Episode 5 is confirmed to be the final episode of The Idol, and currently, the team has no information about whether there will be a Season 2 or not.
