Behind the Scenes of HBO's The Idol: A Deep Dive into the Controversies and Cancellation After Season One

HBO’s The Idol takes an unexpected turn with the renewal for the second season being canceled by the production house. The show’s proactive nature and explicit content could be a reason for the decision

Outlook International Desk

Updated on: 30 August 2023 8:15 pm

Renewal of HBO’s ‘The Idol’, starring Abel

HBO's highly anticipated drama, "The Idol," which initially was set to join the network's prestigious lineup, is to end with season one. The show, starring Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye and Lily-Rose Depp, revolved around a young pop star entangled with a secret cult led by Weeknd's character. However, the drama has taken an unexpected turn, with HBO deciding not to renew it for a second season.

In a recent statement, HBO acknowledged the show's provocative nature which generated a strong audience response. However, the production house cited "much thought and consideration from both the network and creators” as the reason behind the decision to cancel.?

Joining many, the Parents Television and Media Council had also praised the cancellation, stating that the program's explicit content, including nudity, sexual abuse, and torture, was not very suitable for young viewers.

While "The Idol" initially held potential for multiple seasons, recent developments shifted the narrative for the future of the show. The first season, which was originally set to have six episodes, finally concluded with just five episodes toward the end. The last episode of season 1 ended with a twist, revealing Depp's character as the secret cult leader, challenging the power dynamics established earlier.

However, controversy seems to have plagued the show from the beginning. Early on, the departure of the original female director and an actress raised concerns about the show's perspective. Furthermore, a Rolling Stone report highlighted accusations from cast and crew members that the series had devolved into "sexual torture porn."?

The content of the show allegedly shifted from a narrative of a woman's struggles in the industry to scenarios resembling toxic fantasies. Despite HBO's defense, the creative approach changed to better align with network standards.

The drama's downfall was further evident when the co-creator and showrunner, Sam Levinson, produced five episodes instead of the initially ordered six.