‘The Idol,’ Starring The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp, Canceled at HBO After 1 Season

It’s time to say goodbye to The Idol.

On Monday, HBO announced the controversial series — starring Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye and Lily-Rose Depp — will not return for a second season.

“The Idol was one of HBO’s most provocative original programs, and we’re pleased by the strong audience response,” an HBO spokesperson tells PEOPLE in a statement. “After much thought and consideration, HBO, as well as the creators and producers have decided not to move forward with a second season. We’re grateful to the creators, cast, and crew for their incredible work.”

PEOPLE has learned the decision to cancel the series was not made until very recently. The show’s creators and producers did not have a set storyline for a multi-season arc, but had options to continue the story after the show’s first season.

The Weeknd on ‘The Idol’.

HBO

‘The Idol’: Everything to Know About The Weeknd’s Controversial HBO Series

The decision to end The Idol comes less than two months after the show’s season 1 finale aired. Shortly after the final episode, The Weeknd shared his gratitude for the series on Instagram.

“The finale. grateful to share this moment with you all as the season comes to an end,” the Grammy winner captioned his post. “Continue to push the vision no matter how bumpy the journey.”

“Jocelyn Forever 🎭” he concluded, referencing his costar Depp’s character and the finale episode’s title.

‘The Idol’ Controversy Explained: All About the Drama Behind the HBO Series

The series, co-created by director Sam Levinson, has made headlines for its overtly explicit sex scenes and nudity. Addressing the matter during a Cannes Flim Festival press conference for the series, Depp defended the show by saying: “I think that something about Jocelyn is just that she’s a born and bred performer. I think that extends to every aspect of her life, not just her professional life.”

“I think that the way that she dresses, for example, is her trying to tell you something all the time or say something to the people that she’s around or express herself in some kind of way,” she added. “And I also think that the occasional bareness of the character physically mirrors the bareness that we get to see emotionally in her.”

Levinson also defended the series, saying, “It’s funny, I think that sometimes things that might be revolutionary are taken too far. I think we live in a very sexualized world.”

Lily-Rose Depp on ‘The Idol’.

HBO

The Weeknd Says He’s ‘Grateful’ for ‘Bumpy’ Journey on ‘The Idol’ Despite Criticism

In addition to the show’s excessive nudity and sex scenes being questioned, The Idol — which was also the subject of a Rolling Stone exposé — has been criticized for its storylines, with The Guardian calling it “one of the worst programs ever made.” The Weeknd’s own performance, in particular, has also been criticized.

Despite the controversy and abbreviated season, star Da’Vine Joy Randolph told Variety in June: “Everyone’s intention is to have a second season.”

“This was never intended to be a limited series. HBO has been very happy with it — so much so that there were rumors that we were canceled, and then HBO went on Twitter, which I think they rarely do,” she added. “Nothing is official, but HBO is quite happy.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Season 1 of The Idol can be streamed in full on Max.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education