Is The Idol Over? HBO Responds to Backlash and Cancellation Claims

HBO has recently dismissed claims that The Idol by Euphoria’s Sam Levinson was cut short after only two episodes. 

The show stars Lily-Rose Depp as Jocelyn, a pop star who falls for Tedros, a cult leader and club owner played by Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye. The show has faced a lot of backlash for its excessive use of sex and nudity. 

However, HBO PR clarified on Twitter that the show is still on the air and has not been scrapped by the network.

It is being misreported that a decision on a second season of The Idol has been determined. It has not, and we look forward to sharing the next episode with you Sunday night.

— HBO PR (@HBOPR) June 15, 2023

The post also states that HBO has not greenlit The Idol for a second season yet. The series has been plagued by controversy and backlash, even before it debuted on HBO.

Critics panned The Idol as a pornographic disaster when it debuted at Cannes, with one reviewer calling it “A Pornhub-homepage odyssey.” 

The HBO series has faced backlash for various reasons, such as a 10-minute sex scene in episode 2 that became a joke online. The Weeknd claimed The Idol’s sex scenes are satirical, but they still provoked adverse reactions from audiences.

Before the show aired, Rolling Stone reported that The Idol’s creative team was a chaotic mess after Levinson replaced Seimetz as the director. HBO, Depp, and Tesfaye denied any behind-the-scenes problems. 

The Idol season 2 is not confirmed yet, and the show’s poor ratings and reviews might jeopardize its chances of renewal. However, season 1 also has a buzz factor due to its provocative content, which could help it attract a loyal fan base. 

Will Levinson and HBO continue their risky venture with The Idol, or will they pull the plug on the divisive series? The fate of The Idol hangs in the balance, and only time will tell what happens next.

About The Idol

The Idol is an upcoming American drama television series created by Abel “the Weeknd” Tesfaye, Reza Fahim, and Sam Levinson for HBO. Set against the backdrop of the music industry, the series will focus on a self-help guru and leader of a modern-day cult who enters into a complicated relationship with a rising pop idol. Lily-Rose Depp and Tesfaye are set to star in the leading roles, with Troye Sivan, Debby Ryan, Rachel Sennott, Jennie Kim, Steve Zissis, Hari Nef, and Juliebeth Gonzalez appearing as supporting characters.