The Idol

“The Idol” Episode 5 Recap: The Finale

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The Idol starring The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp has proven to be an exceptionally polarizing show. Overall, this has been for a very good reason. There have been some truly disgusting plotlines as well as some acting chops that have left a lot to be desired. Moreover, it was announced that the first season would end one episode earlier than initially advertised. Needless to say, it has been a bit of a mess, albeit one that has proven enticing. In fact, the show can be likened to a catastrophic track wreck that you simply cannot take your eyes off. That said, the season finale aired last night, and it was a doozy.

Jocelyn & Tedros Are Done With Each Other

After having slept with her ex-boyfriend Rob in the previous episode, it was clear that her distaste for Tedros was mounting. Subsequently, in the finale, we get more of that as Joss repeatedly tries to kick Tedros out of recording sessions, to no avail. Everyone in the room seems exasperated with the man, but he maintains his presence. This is all taking place as Joss’ team decides to come to the house to discuss her tour. Unsurprisingly, Tedros sticks around despite Joss’s numerous attempts to get him to leave the premises.

Once her team arrives, they are immediately taken aback by all the odd characters standing around. It is immediately noted that the whole thing feels like a cult. From there, many artists begin performing, and Joss’ managers are amazed. However, things immediately begin to sour as Leia learns that Rob is being accused of rape by the girl he took a photo with in Episode 4. Xander is in on the whole thing and refuses to talk to Leia about it. Overall, it is a disaster, which is happening unbeknownst to Jocelyn. Although, once she does find out about it, she immediately realizes that Tedros is in on it.

Tedros Kicked Off The Idol, Or Is He?

Following this debacle, Jocelyn grabs Tedros and demands he leaves the premises. However, he threatens to kidnap her and kill her if she so much as calls the cops. She subsequently brings Chaim into all of this and tells him to pay Tedros as much as possible to get him out of their lives. This leads to Jocelyn performing her new song for her managers, who are simply blown away. They then say the tour is back on, which proves to be a huge win for her and Tedros’ artists, who will get to open for her.

As this happens, Tedros is taken by security guards take thrown into the back of a van with Chaim. Chaim cuts Tedros a $500K check to leave forever, although he refuses it. This forces Chaim into Plan B, where he goes to the Vanity Fair reporter and gets her to include Tedros’ past in her piece. Of course, she was more than excited to do this as it ultimately enhanced the story. Needless to say, this is presented as the final nail in Tedros’s coffin. However, things can’t just end that easily.

The Grand Finale

Ironically enough, the last stages of The Idol take place on stage. We jump six weeks ahead and it is revealed to us by Chaim and Nikki that she has dropped three hit singles in the span of just a month and a half. Furthermore, she has sold out a stadium tour, with her first stop at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. We get numerous shots of soundcheck where Tedros’ artists are excited about their new roles.

Moreover, we find out that bad information came out regarding Tedros. This then leads to a shot of Tedros entering the stadium premises. He goes to the box office and asks if an artist pass has been left for him. Surprisingly, there was an artist pass for him. He then makes his way to Joss’s dressing room, where Destiny meets him. She tells him from now on, he must be on his best behavior. Subsequently, Jocelyn enters the room and says she wants him around and that she loves him. They then head to her stage, and she speaks to her crowd. Shockingly, she brings Tedros up on stage, and her team is mortified, and rightfully so. However, she kisses Tedros, and once he walks off the stage, she faces the crowd and is met with thunderous cheers and applause.

Another Season Of The Idol?

From there, The Idol title card flashes on screen, and the finale comes to a close. Numerous loose ends are left for the viewer to figure out. From Rob to Dyanne, there is a lot unanswered. Although, the final scene tells us there is very little more for this show to do. If I were you, I wouldn’t expect a second season anytime soon. Let us know what you thought of The Idol, in the comments section below.

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“The Idol” Takes A Shot At Kanye West In Series Finale

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Over the weekend the finale episode of The Weeknd’s The Idol series aired on HBO. The show has been controversial from the very start for things like its portrayal of women. The show was also consistently blasted by critics throughout its entire run for supposedly bad writing and acting. Now, according to TMZ, in the show’s final episode it takes a shot at another source of controversy, Kanye West.

The rapper famously shot off with a series of antisemitic rants last year. At his peak of volatility, he expressed his adoration for Adolf Hitler during an interview. Even when he was given the opportunity to clarify he instead doubled down on his statements. Now months later The Idol is taking aim at his comments. In a scene where the show’s lead Jocelyn is trying to convince her management she’s ready to go back on tour, they remain unconvinced. In what seems like a misguided argument, she cites Kanye West as a reason for why she is capable of going on tour. “You know f*cking Kanye was filling arenas until he decided to start following Adolf Hitler,” she says.

“The Idol” Aims At Kanye West

Even since he largely disappeared from the public eye, Kanye West has continued to have a controversial time. The rapper is a part of two ongoing lawsuits that he’s trying to have thrown out. The first deals with a space that GAP rented for their collaboration. West reportedly made permanent changes to the space violating a contract that explicitly forbids it. Now GAP is denying that they’re responsible for West’s action in the space. Kanye is also trying to get the lawsuit thrown out himself.

Kanye West is also dealing with the ongoing suit from his Donda Academy. Three teachers sued the institution for reportedly firing them based on racial motivations. West denied all of the allegations and denied that he had a direct role in them. What do you think of The Idol‘s joke at Kanye West’s expense? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: Rihanna, Kanye West, & Paul McCartney’s “FourFiveSeconds” Reaches 1 Billion Spotify Streams

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“The Idol” Catches Heat For Controversial Season Finale

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Overall, The Idol has been roasted quite a bit over the last few weeks. However, a lot of fans have still tuned in week after week. This is because there is nothing better than some scandalous television. Even if the show offends your senses, there is still a good chance that you will tune in. Subsequently, on Sunday, fans finally got the show’s finale. It only took five episodes for the first season to wrap up, and overall, it was a bit of a doozy.

This article will go into some spoilers, so if you prefer not to be spoiled, then maybe now is a good time to stop reading. Okay, so without further ado, let’s get into it. Essentially, the entire episode revolved around Lily-Rose Depp trying to get The Weeknd’s character out of her life. However, by the end of the episode, she has a change of heart and decides to let him back into her life. Additionally, he gets to face the crowd at her concert, which just so happens to be at So-Fi Stadium.

Read More: The Weeknd Calls “The Idol” “Almost Educational” Amid Controversy

“The Idol” Goes Out With A Bang

For a lot of fans, this was a bad ending to an already-suspect show. After all, Tedros was an abuser who also kidnapped women and pimped them out. It also appeared as though Jocelyn didn’t actually need him in order to succeed. Either way, the whole finale felt like a huge contradiction. Consequently, the Twitter reactions to the show were quite intense. Down below, you can see just how passionate people were about this direction.

Twitter Reacts

Moving forward, it seems unlikely that the show will get a second season. After all, Jocelyn finished the show with a successful album and a sold-out tour. Overall, that is a huge win for the artist, and with Tedros back in the picture, there is nowhere for the series to go. Let us know what you thought of The Idol, in the comments section down below.

Read More: The Weeknd & Lil Baby Worship “False Idols” On Our “R&B Season” Playlist Update

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The Weeknd & Lily-Rose Depp Drop Provocative Track “Dollhouse”

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The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp have been catching a whole lot of flack for their roles in The Idol. Overall, the show has been getting some putrid reviews. Moreover, some feel like their acting leaves a lot to be desired. Having said all of that, the first season came to an end on Sunday. It was a weird ending, to say the least, as some felt like the decisions made by Jocelyn were simply nonsensical. Either way, the show is now over, and it remains to be seen if a second season is in the cards.

During the finale episode, there was a song that played during a very pivotal scene. The song was sung by Jocelyn, and it contained some raunchy lyrics and the choreography to match. Subsequently, The Weeknd decided to release the song, much to the delight of fans. One thing we don’t hear in the episode is the fact that Abel actually as his own verse near the end of the song. Ultimately, his addition to the song is a breath of fresh air.

The Weeknd x Lily-Rose Depp

Overall, this is a song that is meant to shock you with some of the lyrics. Although, some are just going to roll their eyes seeing as though the show has already had plenty of these moments already. Either way, it is clear that the song is catchy, and the chord progressions are peak Mike Dean. Interestingly enough, Mike Dean is in the show, which serves as a nice cameo that will get music fans more invested in the show.

Although the show may have flopped from a critical perspective, at least we have a solid soundtrack to go back to. Let us know what you think of this new song, in the comments section down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from around the music world. We always bring you the biggest releases from the biggest artists.

Quotable Lyrics:

Every night at sunset, glowing, fairytale, knowing
Everything will be perfectly complete
Happy ever after, gleaming, daytime, dreaming
Once upon a time, in my brand new life
Guess I knew with my head high

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The Weeknd Calls “The Idol” “Almost Educational” Amid Controversy

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In a recent interview with Variety, The Weeknd discussed his controversial HBO series, The Idol. He stars in The Idol alongside Lily-Rose Depp, and is a co-creator of the series. The show has received a ton of backlash for it’s frequent nudity and depictions of toxicity in characters and relationships. The Weeknd has continued to defend the project, and his recent interview is no different.

He tells Variety, “My goal was for people to feel that way when they watch it, you know, and that they’ll reassess (fame).” The artist continues, “It’s almost educational that this is what comes with being incredibly famous. You’re surrounded by people who you’re not sure what their true intentions are, even if it seems like they’re good. You just never know.” The Weeknd then goes on to compare his personal experience to Lily-Rose Depp’s character in the series, Jocelyn. “I’ve been very fortunate to have people around me that I’ve known almost my entire life,” he says, “which is important and is a gift.”

Read More: The Weeknd Reportedly “Ordered” To Film Unscripted Assault Scene For “The Idol”

The Weeknd Defends The Idol

The Weeknd Calls "The Idol" Is "Almost Educational" Amid Controversy
(L-R) Sam Levinson, Lily-Rose Depp and Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye attend “The Idol” photocall at the 76th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 23, 2023 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/FilmMagic)

He then goes on to describe how some characters in the show work to send a message. “Nothing is worse than a yes-man,” The Weeknd explains, “especially when you have a bunch of yes-men around you. And when you see a character like Nikki, who’s not a yes-man, she might seem like a bad person, but then you kind of like her for being honest.”

The Weeknd has previously stated that the show has managed to get the reaction they were looking for. “I’m loving it,” he told GQ, “It’s definitely shaken up the culture for sure.” He continued, “We knew we were making something dark and controversial but true to what we want to say.”

Read More: Lily-Rose Depp Defends Controversial Sex Scenes In “The Idol”

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The Weeknd Reportedly “Ordered” To Film Unscripted Assault Scene For “The Idol”

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Per an on-set source who spoke to Page Six, The Idol showrunner and director Sam Levinson “ordered” The Weeknd to film a scene in which his character rapes the character played by Lily Rose-Depp. According to the source, Levinson made a surprise mid-scene adjustment during the shooting of a sex scene for the show’s fourth episode. Levinson reportedly “explicitly directed” The Weeknd to have Tedros “strangle” Jocelyn before ejaculating inside her. Furthermore, these non-consensual elements of the scene were not in the original script. However, the scene was reportedly cut from the episode entirely.

Levinson was “by the monitor, laughing and feeding lines to Abel’s character, like, ‘I own you,’” the source alleges. While The Weeknd and Rose-Depp did the scene as instructed, many of the production staff present found it “extremely disturbing.” Additionally, the show’s intimacy director, Mam Smith, declined to comment on the scene when approached by Page Six. The revelation is in spite of the source also claiming that Levinson “does not take issues of consent lightly” and “was committed to creating a safe, collaborative, and mutually respectful working environment on set.”

Surprise Rape Scene Latest “The Idol” Horror Story

Sam Levinson, Lily Rose-Depp, and The Weeknd at the Cannes Film Festival
Sam Levinson, Lily-Rose Depp and Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye le 23 mai 2023 à Cannes. (Photo by Laurent KOFFEL/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

However, this is just the latest story from the set of The Idol, whose production is almost as infamous as the finished product. “It was, let’s just say, a shitshow,” one producer told Rolling Stone in a scathing investigation into the show’s creation. On the surface, it appeared that the show, looking to bank off the infamy and name recognition of Levinson, was rushed into production to fill the Sunday night HBO slot vacated by House of the Dragon. That led to shooting delays, multiple reshoots, and even massive script rewrites.

But the problems only go deeper. Original series director Amy Seimetz reportedly left 80% of the way through production. She claimed she felt forced out, with The Weeknd allegedly claiming that the show, for which he serves as co-creator, was leaning into too much of a “female perspective” with Seimetz at the helm. That led to Levinson taking over, scrapping everything Seimetz had done, and starting from scratch. Additionally, The Weeknd has been described as “egomaniacal” by on-set sources. All of this culminated in a show that has been panned by audiences and critics. The Idol will air its final episode on July 2. Furthermore, HBO is yet to officially cancel the show or greenlight a second season.

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Madonna Avoided Seeing A Doctor While Focusing On Tour

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Earlier this week we got some scary details about a recent hospitalization Madonna had. She was reportedly found unresponsive over the weekend and taken to the hospital. While she has left the hospital since and is recovering reports are still emerging about the situation. Initial reports cited a bacterial infection as the primary cause of her hospitalization. Now new details are emerging.

According to TMZ, Madonna was “kicking and screaming” at the idea she may have to delay her tour. She was allegedly so focused on work for her upcoming Celebration tour that she didn’t go to the doctor. That was despite reportedly having a low fever for over a month before her hospitalization. Her upcoming tour is intended as a celebration of her four-decade musical career. It’s scheduled to start in Vancouver on July 15th. While no update has been made at the moment, it’s unclear if Madonna will be fit to perform.

Madonna’s Hospitalization Details

While Madonna clearly still wants the tour to go on as planned, that seems to be still up in the air. Just a few weeks ago she was part of a new song called “Popular.” The track is for the soundtrack of The Weeknd and Euphoria creator Sam Levinson’s new show The Idol. The Weeknd has been releasing new music in conjunction with the show’s new episodes airing every week. Her song “Popular” also features a short verse from Playboi Carti and is handed predominately by The Weeknd himself.

Earlier this month, Madonna was part of another new song. “VULGAR” saw the pop legend leaning into her controversial side alongside pop star Sam Smith. Just last night the song got the first of what is expected to be a number of official remixes. Much of the new material Madonna has released this year has been remixes of her classic work. Albums like American Life and Ray Of Light have received dozens of new remixes this year alone. What do you think of the new reports coming from Madonna’s hospitalization? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: The Weeknd Details Interest In Writing & Co-Producing Madonna Album After “The Idol” Soundtrack Collab

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The Weeknd Two Singles, Including Lil Baby & Suzanna Son Collab “False Idols,” Ahead Of “The Idol” Finale

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No matter how you feel about The Idol, the best thing that really came out of that show is new music from The Weeknd. Critics and fans might pan his acting but that certainly hasn’t impacted how we receive his music. The Idol provided an excellent opportunity for the Toronto artist to deliver some new heat. With the series finale set for this Sunday, he came through with two new singles ahead of its finale, including a highly-anticipated collaboration alongside Lil Baby titled, “False Idols.”

Alongside Suzanna Son, who plays the role of Chloe on the HBO series, the Atlanta star and the Dawn FM singer serve up a banger. With The Weeknd and Mike Dean delivering an apocalyptic production, Suzanna Son’s haunting vocals tie together the hook. However, Lil Baby sets the tone, swooping in with an impressive verse that finds him delicately balancing fame and the streets with slight socio-political undertones, rapping, “I don’t got beef with you n***as/ Got beef with the system/ Big bro at the end of his habeas.” The two previously linked up on Ye’s “Hurricane” but “False Idols” strengthens the chemistry between The Weeknd and Lil Baby.

Read More: “The Idol” Episode 4 Recap: “Stars Belong To The World”

The Weeknd Tags Lil Baby & Suzanna Son 

The Weeknd first previewed “False Idols” earlier this week on an Instagram Live session, leading to much hype surrounding the record. The record is also accompanied by “Like A God,” both appearing on The Idol Episode 5 Part 1 – an indication that The Idol will end with a two-part finale, despite claims that it would end after five episodes. Still, it’s an exciting record and arguably one of Lil Baby’s better performances in recent times.

In the past few months, The Weeknd’s unleashed a handful of singles to accompany his television series. He tapped Playboi Carti and Madonna for the Neptunes-esque, “Popular.” Last week, he released “One of The Girls” with Lil Rose Depp and JENNIE of K-Pop group, Black Pink. He also dropped off a cover of John Lennon’s “Jealous Guy,” and another collaboration with Rose Depp, “Fill The Void,” alongside Ramsey. Check out “False Idols” and “Like A God” above. 

Read More: “The Idol” To End One Episode Early

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The Weeknd, Lil Baby, And Suzanna Son Warn Of The Dangers Of ‘False Idols’ On Their New Song

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HBO’s The Idol is gearing up for its season (and possibly series) finale. Ahead of the upcoming fifth episode, The Weeknd has shared new music. One of the songs The Weeknd has shared tonight is a TK collaboration with Lil Baby and actress Suzanna Son called “False Idols.”

On “False Idols,” The artists offer a warning to those susceptible to the glitz and glamour of the A-List life.

“I done made it out the land of the brave / I can tell you, shake my aunt, daddy’s fate / Free the guys, the ones who never made a stage / Slidin’ with a Drac’, I made it home safe,” raps Lil Baby on the opening verse.

The Weeknd then comes in, instructing the listener to remain alert.

“Be careful who you call God / L.A filled with fake prophecies / They hate it when you get on top / Magazines tarnish legacies / Can you tell me how much did it cost? / A hundred mill’ ain’t a stretch for me,” he sings on the second verse.

Throughout the song, Son, who plays Chloe, a member of The Weeknd’s character, Tedros’ cult, offers sugary harmonies.

You can listen to “False Idols” above.

The season finale of The Idol will air this coming Sunday at 9 p.m. EST on HBO. All episodes will be available to stream on Max.

Lily-Rose Depp Defends Controversial Sex Scenes In “The Idol”

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Lily-Rose Depp has defended the “provocative” nudity in HBO’s new series, The Idol. Speaking with Vogue Australia in an interview with singer and co-star Troye Sivan, she explained that she had no interest “in making something puritanical.” Depp says that we live in a “highly sexualized world” and wanted to explore that with The Idol.

“For me, whole character and the show and her arc was really a collaboration through and through. We know that we’re making something provocative and we are not shying away from that. That’s something I knew I was setting out to do from the beginning. I was never interested in making something puritanical. It’s okay if this show isn’t for everyone and that’s fine,” she told the outlet.

Read More: The Weeknd Details Interest In Writing & Co-Producing Madonna Album After “The Idol” Soundtrack Collab

Lily-Rose Depp Poses With The Weeknd At Cannes

Lily-Rose Depp et Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd) le 23 mai 2023 à Cannes. (Photo by Laurent KOFFEL/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Depp added that she “never felt more respected and more safe on a set, honestly. And I think the trust that we all built with each other, you [Sivan] and I, and [creator Sam Levinson] and I, and Abel [Tesfaye] and I, that can only make for a really safe-feeling set. So when it comes to the nudity and the risqué nature of the role, that to me was really intentional. That was really important to me and something that I was excited about doing. I think we live in a highly sexualized world. I think that’s an interesting thing to explore.”

In addition to critics focusing on the sexual content of the series, another aspect that has been the target of backlash is The Weeknd’s performance as Tedros. Responding to the hate, the singer’s been going back and forth with haters on Twitter who have been criticizing the show. In addition to acting in the series, The Weeknd also has a credit as a co-creator. The fifth and final episode of The Idol will be airing on July 2.

Read More: The Weeknd Keeps Responding To “The Idol” Hate On Twitter

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