The Weeknd has been inundated with heavy criticism as of late. Overall, it is all thanks to his role in the new HBO series The Idol. Although the show seemingly had potential, it has been a complete mess. The plot lines have been incomprehensible at times, while the acting hasn’t been great. The artist has been quick to defend the show on Twitter, however, people don’t like how Abel is coming across. Needless to say, the whole series is on the verge of cancelation, with the last episode of the season airing this Sunday.
One strong point of the series, however, has been the music. Every single week, The Weeknd has dropped a song from the soundtrack. Overall, these songs have been quite good and have even had some strong features on them. Recently, the artist revealed that a couple of the new tracks would even feature Lil Baby. This has gotten fans excited, as Lil Baby and The Weeknd typically make a good team. Of course, we saw this with “Hurrican,” a single from Kanye’s Donda album.
In the Instagram post above, you can see that The Weeknd went on IG Live and previewed one of the songs. For the most part, it sounds like Lil Baby is providing a spirited verse here. As for The Weeknd, you can expect his vocals to be on point, as per usual. Fans are expecting a track from The Idol to drop this Friday, however, it is unknown at this time whether or not it will be the song with Lil Baby, or perhaps something else.
Even though the show might not be great, at least we are getting some gems here. Hopefully, The Weeknd decides to give us a solo project, not long after the series is wrapped up. Let us know what you think of these snippets, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world.
The Idol is a show that has proven to be extremely provocative. However, not everyone is a fan of this. Overall, some believe the show is simply too over the top and that the sex and torture scenes are just ridiculous. Quite frankly, these criticisms are valid. The show has displayed very little in terms of an actual through-line, and the characters never feel consistent in their motivations. That said, people are still tuning in because there is nothing more titillating than a trainwreck.
Interestingly enough, after Episode 4 which aired on Sunday, it was revealed that Episode 5 would be the season finale. Overall, this confused a whole lot of viewers. This is due to the fact that the show was originally going to be six episodes. Some thought that this was simply a mistake on HBO’s part. However, as it turns out, this was all very deliberate. According to a report from TV Line, Sam Levinson made some big changes to the show which ultimately led to an entire episode being cut.
While this may seem surprising, it shouldn’t be. This entire show has been mired in controversy since the very beginning. Needless to say, it should come as no great surprise that entire episodes worth of content are being left on the cutting room floor. Moreover, there have been reports that this series will not get picked up for a second season. Although HBO has denied these reports, it is hard to imagine this show going anywhere from here.
At this point, we will just have to watch the finale to truly find out. However, based on the events of Episode 4, it is hard to imagine where this show even lands. There are a lot of plot points that need to be touched on, and there is no guarantee that they will. Let us know your thoughts on The Idol, down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from around the entertainment world and beyond.
The Idol has been one of the most provocative shows released in quite some time. Overall, it is also extremely polarizing. The themes of this show are quite disturbing at times. Moreover, there seems to be no filter as it pertains to showing off these themes. Not to mention, The Weeknd’s acting has received much scrutiny. Throughout the first three episodes, fans have progressively been turned off by the show’s direction. This is especially true after it was revealed that Tedros would begin to abuse Jocelyn as a means of getting better songs out of her. In Episode 4, titled “Stars Belong To The World,” the show continues down its troubling trajectory.
Jocelyn’s Reinvention
Episode 4 begins with Mike Dean’s arrival at Jocelyn’s house. It is here where Tedros is able to attempt to deliver on his promise of some mega hits. In the last episode, Chaim made it clear that time is of the essence, and subsequently, Tedros is making an effort to deliver. However, while all this takes place, Destiny tells Chaim that she has found some information on the mysterious nightclub owner. Essentially, he has been to prison for kidnapping and torturing his ex-girlfriend. These details are provided to us as Joss continues to record a new song that speaks about her and Tedros’ relationship dynamics.
From there, Chaim asks Destiny to watch over the house over the coming days. There is a real sense that Tedros is spelling trouble for their star, and they want to grasp what’s happening. As soon as Destiny gets in the house, she becomes acquainted with Chloe, who lets it slip that she is underage. Furthermore, Destiny reveals that she is an incredible singer and even a vocal coach of sorts. This eventually leads her to give Joss some pointers on her latest song. Subsequently, we get the cringiest scene in the whole series thus far. Once again, this is another instance of us telling you to watch the show, as any description of these actions is NSFW. Amid all this, we find out that Dyanne got signed to Joss’ record label and is now being given World Class Sinner.
The Idol Becomes A Parody Of Itself
During these next few scenes, we get some truly ridiculous settings that are meant to shock the audience and really nothing else. While showering, Jocelyn’s creative director Xander begins to sing. Tedros was watching him the whole time and eventually asks why he never told anyone about his talent. We are subsequently told that Xander had a vocal chord injury and gave up singing. Tedros then convinces the young man to join Joss’ team of singers. Although due to Tedros’ suspicions that he is a liar, he forces Xander to wear a shock collar. Xander tries to escape, but Izaak and others pin Xander down. This then leads to an argument between Joss and Xander, who claims that the pop star’s mom made him sign a contract vowing never to sing again.
Of course, Jocelyn tells Tedros that Xander is lying and forces her new beau to shock her longtime friend. Eventually, Xander can’t take it anymore and says he won’t “lie” anymore. This entire passage just feels like the show becoming a parody of itself and does very little to advance the plot. The same can be said of the following scene in which Joss admits to Destiny that she knows Tedros has been to prison. However, she naively claims that it is because many women lied about him being their pimp. As you can imagine, Destiny is less than enthused by all of this.
Jocelyn Goes Public
In the last third of Episode 4 of The Idol, Tedros gets Jocelyn to go public with the abuse she faced. Joss does just that through an Instagram Live video in which she gets very emotional. However, that same night, she hosts a huge party at her mansion that eventually devolves into a complete mess. For instance, Tedros yells at Leia and embarrasses her. This finally gets Jocelyn to speak up, much to Tedros’s dismay. Things get worse for Tedros as Dyanne shows up to the party, and Jocelyn learns about her and Tedros’s history.
Jocelyn is clearly hurt by this information and texts her ex-boyfriend Rob, who is a famous actor. He shows up at the house, and Tedros confronts him with a “drink-off.” Rob wins the competition as Tedros becomes a jealous and pathetic mess. Joss then takes Rob up to her room, where they have sex. Tedros is standing outside the bedroom door, listening to it all occur. He has tears in his eyes, and it is the first time in the show that he genuinely cracks.
Finally, the episode ends with Xander and a woman trapping Rob in a compromising position. The woman asks to take a photo with Rob and makes the picture sexual against his wishes. He leaves the house, and Xander makes it clear to the woman that they will use the photo against him. Effectively making The Idol just Euphoria with grown adults.
The Idol has proven to be yet another immensely viral, and deeply controversial, show for HBO. The show follows recovering Jocelyn (Lily Rose-Depp) as she embarks on a torrid romance with self-help influencer and cult leader Tedros (The Weeknd). From the mind of Sam Levinson (creator of Euphoria), the show has refused to shy away from controversial material. Self-harm, revenge porn, drug use, masturbation, and sexual scenes of dubious consent all feature in the show’s first three episodes.
However, the boundary-pushing show has been problematic for many viewers. Critics have argued that the show, despite being from Jocelyn’s central viewpoint, is nothing more than a toxic male power fantasy. Furthermore, others simply take issue with the show’s poor acting and writing. Early viewing figures report that Episode 3 saw another decline, though not as sharp as the drop between Episodes 1 and 2. Despite this, it means that the show is still struggling to retain the viewers it did manage to keep hold of.
Lily Rose-Depp Loved Shooting “The Idol” Nude Scenes
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, Rose-Depp embraced the nude demands of the role. “It’s all me. I love doing that kind of work,” the actress told The Sun. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with enjoying that kind of work. I also think it really speaks to who the character is and who she wants to tell you that she is. She’s a performer through and through, even when she’s alone and just looking in the mirror. Every outfit and every interaction and every piece of nudity and all those things are very intentional and were really important to me.”
She continued. “Maybe this makes me, like, a little twisted. But I feel really good after doing scenes like that because there’s something that feels very therapeutic about it to me — and maybe that’s why I like doing this job. Maybe there’s something wrong with me but it feels very cathartic and I feel very drained of anything that I maybe needed to let go of. Obviously when you go that far emotionally, you have to find it within yourself, it has to come from some place real. Some place inside of you. Even if you’re performing a scene that is completely fictionalised, and you’ve never actually gone through any of that stuff, you have to find it within yourself. But I find that kind of work to be really healing, actually.”
“The Idol” soundtrack might just be the best part about the HBO series, or at least that’s what people online suggest. Regardless of your thoughts on The Weeknd’s show, his latest announcement on what its original music will feature (or rather who) should get you even more amped. Moreover, Abel Tesfaye recently confirmed that he and Lil Baby will release their first official collaboration as part of “The Idol”‘s soundtrack. This follows other high-profile collabs with the likes of Playboi Carti, Madonna, JENNIE from BLACKPINK, and many more on the project. Still, you might be thinking, “Haven’t I heard these two together before?”
You would be right, as the two didn’t officially collab together on a track of their own. However, the Canadian superstar and the Atlanta trap leader both appeared on Kanye West’s track “Hurricane” from his 2021 album Donda. Not only was that a fan-favorite hit (that still doesn’t touch the original leak in this writer’s eyes), but a commercial smash as well. As such, expectations are high as to what the upcoming “False Idols” could be, and the potential for it to be the best song on the whole soundtrack for rap fans.
In other “The Idol”-related news, The Weeknd recently broke down what he and the rest of the team intended with it. “We’re playing with genres with this show, we’re doing exactly what we wanted to do,” he remarked to Variety. “And none of this is a surprise. I’m excited for everyone to watch the rest of the show. 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.”
Meanwhile, the 33-year-old continues to respond to fan hate on Twitter concerning the show’s themes, writing, and acting. Unfortunately, a lot of that negative discussion has caused people to not be super invested in the quality tracks that have formed part of the soundtrack. Perhaps this new collab is what will bring it to the forefront of discussion. On that note, keep checking in with HNHH for the latest news and updates on The Weeknd and Lil Baby.
If you haven’t heard it by now, The Weeknd’s HBO series “The Idol” proved to be a popular but divisive affair. While some fans just can’t stomach the subject matter and its depiction, others took shots at the acting and script quality in particular. The one who’s gotten the brunt of that criticism is Abel Tesfaye himself, particularly on social media sites like Twitter. However, he clearly wants to have a little fun as he lashes back at hate towards the show, whose fourth episode premieres this Sunday (June 25). Moreover, he kept responding to some online discussion of the show, and mockingly replied to one user in particular on Friday (June 23).
“Who has the thread or article on why the idol is bad pls i need it,” the user posted on Twitter. What’s more is that The Weeknd had to dig pretty deep to find this tweet in the first place, which only made people laugh at the idea of him searching “Idol bad” online even more. Nevertheless, the Canadian superstar took issue with people wanting to search popular opinions before coming to their own conclusions. “‘Someone hurry please tell me why I hate something everyone is telling me to hate… hurry before I come up with my own opinion,’” he responded.
The Weeknd Claps Back At Fan Looking For “The Idol” Hate
“someone hurry please tell me why I hate something everyone is telling me to hate … hurry before I come up with my own opinion” https://t.co/NMTFmnDsfF
In addition, he also retweeted some support of the show, highlighting as much negativity and positivity with his Internet presence. “The Idol ep. 3 reminds me of echoes of silence,” one fan wrote. “i feel like if you took that song and turned it into an episode that would be it. they do such an incredible job at the depiction of someone who’s been through trauma and wants a ‘thrill.’ 10/10 it’s incredible.” Another wrote, “Fr I saw on TikTok a girl that was like I am gonna watch the idol every week and keep y’all updated, girl just say you like it keep it moving.”
Meanwhile, another retweeted fan took note of how much attention the show is getting in the first place, indicating that people are more interested than they’d like to admit. “All these “i watched the idol so you don’t have to: review” videos like hmm sounds like u just wanted to watch the idol,” they expressed. Regardless, let us know what you think of “The Idol” so far and Abel’s responses down below. Also, stay up to date on HNHH for the latest news surrounding The Weeknd and his many endeavors.
K-pop fans were stoked to hear that Blackpink‘s Jennie would be starring in The Weeknd’s controversial HBO series The Idol. However, they were disappointed when her role (as the character Dyanne) was relatively limited.
Luckily, they’re getting more from this collaboration. Today (June 23), The Weeknd shared the song “One Of The Girls” from the soundtrack (which is still rolling out alongside the episodes), which features Jennie, as well as Lily-Rose Depp, who plays the sleazy pop star protagonist Jocelyn. The three trade verses in the brooding, seductive song, and it has the salaciousness of the show: “Lock me up and throw away the key / He knows how to get the best out of me.”
Rumors recently spread that The Idol would not return for a second season. Many people weren’t surprised by this due to the overwhelming backlash from viewers. However, HBO posted a statement from their official PR social accounts to clear up the gossip: “It is being misreported that a decision on a second season of The Idol has been determined,” read a tweet. “It has not, and we look forward to sharing the next episode with you Sunday night.”
No matter what you think of The Weeknd’s HBO series “The Idol,” the fact that we’re getting new music each week from Abel as a result can only be a good things. At least, that’s what one of his brand new tracks from Episode 4 proves. “One Of The Girls” features the show’s co-lead Lily-Rose Depp as well as JENNIE from South Korean superstar girl group BLACKPINK. In addition, like much of the soundtrack from “The Idol,” the track features Mike Dean handling additional production duties. Moreover, all of these elements meld together to make an ethereal, sensual, and slow-burning R&B banger.
First, on that final note of the instrumental, wailing and ’80s-inspired synthesizers take center stage on this cut. Complemented by a sharp compressed snare, additional rubbery synths, a simple hi-hat pattern, and heavy bass, it makes for a engagingly trippy and space-inspired R&B beat. Furthermore, this is exactly the kind of production that The Weeknd and Mike Dean dominate these days, and this just adds to that repertoire. Speaking of the Canadian creative, his vocal contributions to the track are as gorgeous as they usually are on any song. What’s more is that there’s strong chemistry with his co-star and with JENNIE thanks to beautiful vocal melodies.
The Weeknd, Lily-Rose Depp & JENNIE On “One Of The Girls”
To elaborate, these two vocalists match the lustful vibe of the song with their subtle, yet intoxicating performances. The BLACKPINK alum starts us off with an intro and later a bridge, whereas Lily-Rose handles a verse and the chorus. Lyrically, it’s about as lewd and seductive as the show itself at least aims to be. Sure, it hasn’t gotten the best reception (especially on social media sites like Twitter), but you can’t deny that the conversation around “The Idol” and its soundtrack has been not just entertaining for the jokes, but also proves its wide reach. On that note, you can find the latest tracks from Episode 4 on your preferred streaming service. Also, come back to HNHH for more great music from the likes of The Weeknd, Lily-Rose Depp, JENNIE, BLACKPINK, and the rest of “The Idol” soundtrack.
Quotable Lyrics Give me tough love Leave me with nothin’ when I come down My kind of love Force me and choke me ’til I pass out
Bethenny Frankel came to the defense of HBO and The Weeknd in response to negative reviews of The Idol. The Real Housewives of New York City star argued that everything on TV doesn’t have to be PG.
“There are 50 sleazy, sleazy Hollywood guys like [The Weeknd’s character] that I remember from living in LA,” she said in a TikTok video Tuesday. “It’s totally realistic, so what are we doing?”
The Weeknd, Sam Levinson, & Lily-Rose Depp, At Cannes
CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 23: (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)
“[People are] making Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd these villains. It’s a fiction story! Don’t watch it!” Frankel added. “Like what happened to everyone? Everything’s supposed to be rinsed? And there are no fictional characters anymore?” Frankel concluded: “Has everyone lost their f–king minds? OK, you don’t like the show, don’t watch it. Suck your thumb, get a pacifier and shut the f–k up!”
The Idol has been getting almost universally negative reviews from critics and fans alike. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a score of just 24%. The series follows a fictional pop star named Jocelyn and her relationship with The Weeknd’s character, Tedros.
The Weeknd recently discussed his goals with the series during an interview with Variety. He explained that he wants to show the dark side of fame. “Well, my goal was for people to feel that way when they watch it, you know, and that they’ll reassess [fame],” he explained. “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. But of course, I’ve been very fortunate to have people around me that I’ve known almost my entire life, which is important, and is a gift.”
The Weeknd is one of the biggest artists in the world. With his level of fame, you would probably expect him to stay off of social media. After all, he must have some better things to do. However, it appears as though he is just like the rest of us. Overall, the past few days have been willed with Abel replying to his hatest on Twitter. Ultimately, this seems to be in relation to the backlash towards The Idol. The show has not been received very well, and his acting performance has been decimated.
In fact, just last week, there were reports that the show would not return for a second season. Although, some already felt like this would be the case as the show was marketed as some sort of one-off series. When the news was announced, many took to Twitter to sound off on the alleged decision. Included in this was the Oreo Twitter account, which wrote: “finally some good news.” Clearly, some intern forgot to log out of the brand’s account. Or perhaps they were just trying to go mega-viral. We suspect the latter.
Well, a whole six days later, The Weeknd finally caught onto Oreo’s shade. This compelled him to respond, saying “Oh f*ck they been talkin sh*t.” However, not long after this tweet, 15 minutes later to be exact, Abel issued another tweet. “Naw I can’t beef with you @Oreo too many beautiful memories… I’m dunking you in some champagne tonight,” he wrote. As it turns out, beefing with Oreo was just not the move for The Weeknd. With everything going on, this is a feud he would be best to stay out of.
Hopefully, the two can mend fences. Perhaps we can even have The Weeknd in an Oreo commercial at some point. Or even a new jingle could be on the way. The possibilities here are truly endless. Let us know what you think of this latest development, in the comments section below. Additionally, keep it locked to HNHH for more news from around the music world and beyond.
