The latest HBO show from the creator of “Euphoria” is proving as controversial as expected.
The new Sam Levinson series “The Idol” starring Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd premiered its first two episodes at the Cannes Film Festival on Monday, facing backlash months before it debuted. in March, Rolling Stone reported The show was “plagued with delays, reshoots and rewrites” after its director exited, and the reshoots reportedly turned the series into “rape fantasy” and “sexual torture porn”.
Based on the first reviews, it looks like it wasn’t too far off. Depp plays a young pop star in the series, while The Weeknd plays the leader of a cult. according to vultureOne of the early plots involves a selfie of Depp’s character with semen leaking onto his face, leading him to be described as a “human cum sock” and the audience seeing this selfie on screen. Depp’s “nude, and near-nude, breasts are constantly displayed,” and there are sex scenes that are “graphic, even by HBO standards.” The Los Angeles Times reported, Vulture also said that one scene “feels like unconscious rape-fantasy porn.”
in playlistcritic Robert Daniels panned the show as “crude, gross and sexist”, a “failed attempt to be offensive” plagued by a “shockingly passive script” and “atrocious” sex scenes. A terrific actor,” Daniels said. Variety’s Peter DebrugeMeanwhile, said that the show “plays out like a sordid male fantasy” and that Depp’s character is treated in a “shameful” manner, while Lovia Gyarkie of The Hollywood Reporter It said “makes you wonder whether in trying so hard to be offensive, the show ultimately turns regressive.” Gregory Ellwood of the Playlist also tweeted that the second episode is “sexist” and “pseudo-indecent”.
however, to the premiere five minute standing ovation in the ear At a press conference, Levinson defended the show saying that “sometimes things that could be revolutionary are taken too far.” He too then said His wife read him the Rolling Stone report, “I looked at him and all I said was, ‘I think we’re going to have the biggest show of the summer.’”
