The Weeknd spoke out about the recent controversy surrounding his upcoming HBO drama The Idol.
The series, which premieres on Sunday, June 4, follows Tedros (The Weeknd), a self-help guru and head of a modern-day cult, who initiates a tumultuous relationship with rising pop sensation Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp).
The Rolling Stones, on the other hand, claimed the project was in ‘turmoil’ following multiple script changes, the departure of director Amy Seimetz after most of the series was already finished, and Levinson taking over and scrapping the ‘nearly-finished’ $54-75 (£45-62) million project to rewrite and reshoot the entire thing.
According to sources, when Levinson took control, he “dialled up the disturbing sexual content and nudity.”
The Save Your Tears hitmaker – actual name Abel Tesfaye – was also in the limelight for alleged on-set actions that led him to want to abandon the show’s “feminist lens.”
Responding to the criticism, the 33-year-old told Interview.: ‘A lot of people work hard on these projects. When I’m in my world, and you guys are coming at me, “it’s like, alright, cool. I’m a big boy. I can figure it out.” But you have 200 people working hard on a project like this, that hurts. Especially when what they’re saying is far from the truth, but, what can you do?’
Issuing a statement in response to the matter, HBO said: ‘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.’
Promised to be ‘the sleaziest love story in all of Hollywood,’ the first promo teased: ‘That’s sex, that’s what we’re selling,’ as Lily-Rose and The Weeknd party alongside Mike Dean, Dan Levy and Hari Nef.
The 90-second short also features new cast members Moses Sumney and Red Rocket’s Suzanna Son, as well as Blackpink’s Jennie, Da’vine Joy Randolph, and Hank Azar.
The Idol premieres on HBO on Sunday June 4.
Source My Celebrity Life.