The Weeknd reflects on the missteps his controversial series made Idol.
ua Diversity profile published Friday, Jan. 10, the Grammy winner — whose real name is Abel Tesfaye — made some rare comments about his 2023 HBO series, which was panned by critics and mired in controversy even before it was released.
“I’m really proud of it — we all are,” said the musician, 34, who wrote and executive produced the show. Euphoria creator Sam Levinson, in addition to starring in the series. “We had a great cast and a great crew. I’ve made some really great friends and I love seeing everyone progress.”
The series followed a pop star, played by Lily-Rose Depp, who tries to start a comeback in her career, but along the way enters into a relationship with a powerful nightclub owner (The Weeknd). She then falls into his dark, sexualized cult in the process.
In April 2022, HBO announced that the series was being remade, replacing former director Amy Seimetz with Levinson—although a reported 80 percent had already been shot, totaling $54 million to $75 million in costs. Next year, Rolling Stone reported that 13 unnamed members of the show’s cast and crew stated that Levinson’s script changes included “disturbing sexually and physically violent scenes between Depp and Tesfaye’s characters”, with one crew member calling it a “rape fantasy”.
The Weekend x Variety Cover Story By Brian Ziff for Variety https://app.asana.com/0/1202556224425358/12091271.
Brian Ziff for Variety
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“Creators and producers Idol have worked hard to create one of HBO’s most exciting and provocative original programming,” HBO wrote in a statement to PEOPLE in response to the allegations at the time.
Reflecting on the experience, The Weeknd said Diversity: “It’s a shame that, you know, it wasn’t welcomed the warmest [response]but we knew what we were doing — something provocative and dark.”
The Weeknd says he’s ‘grateful’ for ‘bumpy’ journey on ‘Idol’ despite criticism
“Maybe it could have been told in a different way, maybe not,” the star admitted to the outlet. “It was bigger than I expected. Not everything you post will connect, and that’s okay.”
Despite the backlash against the series — which was canceled in August 2023 after just one season — The Weeknd revealed to Diversity that the criticism did not “feel personal”.
“Sure, guess what – I’m not saying it didn’t affect me,” he told the magazine. »I say that I did not take it personally. Like, nobody wants to get you, you know? I love reading reviews, even if some of them were not constructive.”
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(599x0:601x2)/the-weekend-variety-3-011025-38a2743037d54aefbee848aafe07e51c.jpg)
The Weekend x Variety Cover Story By Brian Ziff for Variety https://app.asana.com/0/1202556224425358/12091271.
Brian Ziff for Variety
Speaking with Vanity Fair in November, Depp had similar reflections to her co-star about the polarizing series. “I like it. Honestly, I love it,” she said of the show. “We always knew that some people wouldn’t like it and that it would be too much for some. But I stand by it. We made up our minds and went for it.”
WITH Idol in the rearview mirror, The Weeknd focused on his latest creative projects: Hurry up tomorrowthe new album will be released on January 24; a one-night show the next day; and an upcoming self-penned suspense thriller in which he stars opposite Wednesday actress Jenna Ortega and Saltburn led by Barry Keoghan.
“I don’t expect everyone to love Hurry up tomorrow whatever,” said The Weeknd Diversity. “Some people might hate it, but that’s not why I do this. I do it because I’m an artist — that’s how I feel and that’s what I want to say.”
Idol can be fully transferred to Max.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education