“The Weeknd’s Series ‘The Idol’ Faces a Agitated and Heavy Criticism by Fans and Controversy Over Acting and Graphic Content”

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The Idol is an American drama television series created by Sam Levinson, Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, and Reza Fahim. In a recent interview with Variety, The Weeknd, also known as Abel Tesfaye, expressed that he anticipated both critics and viewers to criticize his show. The series has received a surprisingly low rating of 16 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, based on reviews from esteemed critics. Furthermore, viewers have taken to social media to express their disappointment.

A significant amount of criticism has been directed towards The Weeknd’s acting abilities. A Variety critic went as far as describing his performance as “nonexistent” in a headline that generated considerable attention. Additionally, other critics and viewers have voiced concerns about the show being misogynistic and likened it to “torture porn” due to explicit nudity and sex scenes, many of which involve The Weeknd’s co-star Lily-Rose Depp.

The 24-year-old Depp portrays the character of Jocelyn, a pop star, while The Weeknd, aged 33, takes on the role of Tedros, a nightclub owner with a Svengali-like influence over her career.

"The Weeknd's Series 'The Idol' Faces a Agitated and Heavy Criticism by Fans and Controversy Over Acting and Graphic Content"
The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp in The Idol. Eddy Chen/HBO

“The Weeknd Defends Intentional Provocation in ‘The Idol’ and Discusses Inspirations Behind the Show”

In previous interviews, The Weeknd has clarified that the negative reactions his character evokes in viewers are intentional. He and co-creator/director Sam Levinson, who has faced criticism for fostering a “toxic workplace” on his HBO series Euphoria, are deliberately producing the show according to their vision.

The superstar singer expressed excitement for audiences to watch the remaining episodes of the show, emphasizing that they are playing with genres and achieving exactly what they set out to do. When asked if the tone and pace of The Idol would undergo significant changes akin to Brian De Palma’s classic thrillers, The Weeknd acknowledged De Palma’s influence and mentioned that filmmaker Paul Verhoeven (known for films like RoboCop, Basic Instinct, and Total Recall) also played a role in shaping the show.

The Weeknd hopes that The Idol will offer viewers a different perspective on fame, shedding light on the less glamorous aspects that have been explored in films since the silent film era. He describes it as almost educational, exposing the uncertainties and hidden agendas that come with immense fame. While acknowledging the importance of having long-time trusted individuals in his life, he also emphasized the negative consequences of having “yes-men” around.

Additionally, The Weeknd revealed that his voice suffered during a performance due to filming The Idol the night before. This led to the cancellation of the show after just a few minutes. However, he rescheduled two makeup dates, including another performance in Los Angeles and one in Toronto.The Idol airs on HBO on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.

"The Weeknd's Series 'The Idol' Faces a Agitated and Heavy Criticism by Fans and Controversy Over Acting and Graphic Content"
The Weeknd in The Idol. Eddy Chen/HBO

“The Idol Faces Backlash from Fans for Excessive Sexual Content and Weeknd’s Underwhelming Acting”

The Idol, starring artist Abel Tesfaye and French-American actress Lily-Rose Depp, is getting critiqued for its latest preview.

The Idol, a web series featuring the renowned singer Weeknd in a leading role, is generating significant buzz, albeit for unfavorable reasons. Despite high anticipation, the show has failed to meet fans’ expectations, leaving them questioning the overall value it offers. With four episodes already released, viewers are expressing disappointment over the excessive presence of explicit sexual content and Weeknd’s lackluster acting skills.

One of the main points of criticism revolves around the show’s explicit sexual content, which some viewers find excessive and gratuitous. Instead of providing a compelling narrative or character development, the series appears to rely heavily on graphic scenes that contribute little to the overall storytelling. This focus on sensationalism has left fans feeling underwhelmed and questioning the substance of the show.

Another aspect that has drawn criticism is Weeknd’s attempt to incorporate his songs into the dialogue. While this might have seemed like a unique and innovative approach, fans have found his execution to be lacking. Rather than seamlessly blending the music with the narrative, Weeknd’s efforts have been perceived as forced and disjointed. This disconnect between his musical prowess and acting abilities has been a significant point of contention for viewers.

Collectively, these shortcomings have contributed to a sense of disappointment among fans who had eagerly anticipated The Idol. Instead of delivering a compelling and well-rounded series, it appears to rely heavily on explicit content and falls short in terms of acting quality. As a result, viewers are left questioning the overall value and substance of the show, leading to growing skepticism and mixed reactions within the audience.

(This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. Awsmone cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online)

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Nikhat Parveen
Nikhat Parveen
Nikhat Parveen is a Literature Enthusiast. She is Currently Pursuing her Bachelor's Degree in English Literature from the University of Delhi, India. She holds the position of Entertainment Writer at AWSMONE and also is a Published Poet. She has been working as a Content Writer and Interviewer for the past 3 years and as an Honorary Reporter.

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