[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
The forthcoming HBO show The Idol is said to be “the sleaziest love story in all of Hollywood,” according to its very own promo push from late last summer.
And considering its creators — Euphoria boss Sam Levinson, with an assist from The Weeknd, who is in a starring role — we certainly have high hopes for what it could become! But now, in a jaw-dropping report published by Rolling Stone this week, it sounds like the on-set situation has apparently completely devolved.
Related: The Weeknd Has Never Been Shy About Making BIG Demands!
On Wednesday, the mag released a shocking exposé on what allegedly is going on during filming for the show. Problems with the series first crept into the public consciousness last week, when director Amy Seimetz left the show after insiders noted about 80% of the six-episode arc had already been completed. For a director to leave at that late juncture, it might mean something really strange is going on behind the scenes, right?
So says Rolling Stone in Wednesday’s bombshell piece, at least. The outlet interviewed more than a dozen production sources and unnamed set staffers about what they have called “near-impossible expectations” for filming the series. Among the concerns is what one anonymous insider memorably called the show becoming “sexual torture porn” under Levinson’s watch.
According to the outlet, the series started out intending to chronicle the story of a cult leader (played by The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye) in the music business who takes a “floundering” pop star (played by Lily-Rose Depp) under his influence. But somewhere along the way, the storyline allegedly drastically shifted.
One production member reported this about working on The Idol over the past few months:
“What I signed up for was a dark satire of fame and the fame model in the 21st century. The things that we subject our talent and stars to, the forces that put people in the spotlight and how that can be manipulated in the post-Trump world. … It went from satire to the thing it was satirizing.”
Yikes!
There are specifics, too. Levinson’s scripts are said to contain “disturbing sexual and physically violent scenes” between Depp’s character and that played by Tesfaye. In one draft episode, insiders claim there was a scene were Tesfaye “bashes in” Depp’s face, upon which her character “smiles and asks to be beaten more, giving Tesfaye an erection.” What?!?! Ew…
That scene was never actually shot, insiders told the mag. However, another potential scene was even more disturbing: Levinson’s team allegedly proposed Depp’s character “carry an egg in her vagina.” If she dropped or cracked the egg, supposedly, Tesfaye’s character would “refuse to ‘rape’ her,” sending Depp’s character “into a spiral, begging him to ‘rape’ her because she believed he was the key to her success.” Ummm… What the actual f**k?! Who comes up with this s**t??
Thankfully, that scene was also not shot. The mag notes producers “couldn’t find a way to realistically shoot the scene without having Depp physically insert the egg.” Which, uh, OK. Jeez!!!
Related: Mykayla Nogueira Returns To Social Media After Drama! Good Or Bad??
Even if those scenes weren’t filmed, insiders on set worried about the horrific degradation carried out by the show’s apparently toxic environment. One source told Rolling Stone:
“It was like any rape fantasy that any toxic man would have in the show — and then the woman comes back for more because it makes her music better.”
And another added:
“It was a show about a woman who was finding herself sexually, turned into a show about a man who gets to abuse this woman and she loves it.”
While a third shared disbelief over how depraved the show’s scripts and associated on-set work supposedly became:
“It was like, ‘what is this? What am I reading here?’ It was like sexual torture porn.”
Other unsettling allegations from set are getting out, too. Way back last April, a source reported to Deadline that The Weeknd was said to be “unhappy” that the storyline was focusing more on Depp’s character rather than his own. That outlet reported Tesfaye wanted to get rid of the “feminist lens” in which the show was being told. Gross…
Related: Mia Thornton’s Response To ‘RHOP’ Oral Sex Controversy Just Makes Things Worse!
Now, a new insider appears to have confirmed that problem in the Rolling Stone piece this week. They also claim Levinson backed The Weeknd’s desires to alter the show’s focus:
“It was like the Weeknd wanted one show that was all about him — Sam was on board with that.”
Oof.
Other allegations focused upon supposed major division within Levinson’s inner circle. The mag reported on one staffer who said they felt “like a child of divorce, trying to tiptoe around the opposing parties” as Sam allegedly worked to wrestle full control of the show from Seimetz and HBO’s larger backing.
One source claimed morale deteriorated on set as Levinson supposedly “stopped sending scripts” to HBO execs and other important department heads. One person linked to that part of the production claimed:
“I got the vibe that the mood on set was, ‘what’s HBO gonna do, pull the plug? Yeah, right. If they want a third season of Euphoria, they’ll give me what I want… We’re just gonna shoot what we want and if [HBO execs] have a problem with it, that’s their problem.’”
Another production staffer complained of dozens and dozens of last-minute script changes, adding:
“I was so drained by the end of it. I was like, ‘I can’t have a job make me cry every day because I have two hours to sleep, and I’m being pulled 100 directions because nobody knows what they’re doing, or nobody knows what they want because we don’t know what we’re filming.”
Yikes! Sounds toxic, indeed! You can read the entire Rolling Stone report HERE.
Related: ‘Extra’ Host Billy Bush Caught Making Sexual Joke About Kendall Jenner! Gross!
But by Wednesday afternoon, The Weeknd had ALREADY clapped back against the mag’s reporting!!
In a video post he shared on both Twitter and Instagram, the singer tagged Rolling Stone and asked “did we upset you?” Along with it, he shared a clip from the show in which his cult leader character slams the mag’s IG follower count and declines to grant them an interview with Depp’s character.
Seriously, turn the sound on for this vid (below)! It perfectly claps back against the mag and its supposed lack of “influence” on music culture compared to stars’ social followings:
.@RollingStone did we upset you? pic.twitter.com/Uyx06lyRgx
— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) March 1, 2023
OMG! What a read!!
He wasn’t the only one to clap back, either. While she didn’t take to Twitter with a snarky comeback, Depp did speak out, too.
And her statement came down very much on the side of Sam Levinson amid the pair’s close work on The Idol. In a statement released to multiple media outlets on Wednesday afternoon, the 23-year-old star said:
“[Sam is] the best director I have ever worked with. Never have I felt more supported or respected in a creative space, my input and opinions more valued. Working with Sam is a true collaboration in every way — it matters to him, more than anything, not only what actors think about the work, but how we feel performing it. He hires people whose work he esteems and has always created an environment in which I felt seen, heard, and appreciated.”
So that certainly differs from the mag’s bombshell reporting. HBO released their own statement in response to the allegations in Rolling Stone, as well. They noted:
“The creators and producers of The Idol have been working hard to create one of HBO’s most exciting and provocative original programs. The initial approach on the show and production of the early episodes, unfortunately, did not meet HBO standards so we chose to make a change. Throughout the process, the creative team has been committed to creating a safe, collaborative and mutually respectful working environment, and last year, the team made creative changes they felt were in the best interest of both the production and the cast and crew. We look forward to sharing The Idol with audiences soon.”
Drama, drama, drama!
HBO is still gunning to premiere The Idol at some point later in 2023, per Vanity Fair. The show is set to co-star the likes of Troye Sivan, Rachel Sennott, Dan Levy, and K-Pop star Jennie from Blackpink in addition to Tesfaye and Depp. What do U make of this shocking “sexual torture porn” report, tho, Perezcious readers?? Are you surprised to hear it?!
Share your torturous takes down in the comments (below)…
[Image via WENN/Avalon]
