“None of this is a surprise”: The Weeknd is Unfazed With The Idol Negative Ratings After Sickening Jeffery Epstein Joke in Latest Episode
Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, better known by his stage as The Weeknd is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and producer whose captivating voice and distinctive style have mesmerized the music industry and people all over the world. With the release of his debut mix tape, House of Balloons, in 2011, he gained notoriety. With his captivating voice and unique style, this Canadian singer, songwriter, and producer has crossed boundaries and reinvented the music business. The Weeknd has permanently etched himself into the hearts and brains of countless people all across the world with each melancholy song and thought-provoking lyric.
But the Weeknd has now dabbled in a brand-new field of the entertainment industry. He co-created the television series The Idol with Reza Fahim and Euphoria director Sam Levinson. The Weeknd’s most recent foray into television, the HBO series The Idol, has been dogged by controversy and under fire ever since its eagerly awaited release earlier this month. A character on the most recent episode of The Idol makes a joke about Jeffrey Epstein.
The Idol show receives criticism for an offensive joke
The Weeknd, Reza Fahim, and director Sam Levinson who is best known for his work on the popular HBO series Euphoria co-created the television show The Idol. This much-awaited program explores issues of celebrity, power, and the cost of success while taking viewers on an engrossing trip into the seedy side of the music business. The edgy and thought-provoking storyline of The Idol provides a rare and uncensored look into a society that is sometimes romanticized but little understood.
However, the show’s most recent episode has prompted people to criticize it even more than they already have because of an inappropriate joke. A character on the show made a joke about Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted p-dophile, in a way that swiftly sparked an uproar. Viewers felt that the dialogue between Andrew Finkelstein, played by Eli Roth, and Jocelyn, played by Lily-Rose Depp, in Episode 3, where Finkelstein claims Jocelyn is “making him have IBS,” went too far. Roth continues, “I’m f**kin s**tting more blood than a kid at Epstein’s island.”
The Weeknd defended the show
The Weeknd, who has faced criticism and low ratings for his HBO series The Idol, has remained unwavering in his response to the controversies surrounding it. The multi-talented artist stated that the show was purposefully created to be tough and controversial, therefore he was not surprised by the criticism in an interview. “None of this is a surprise,” he remarked.
The Weeknd argues that the show’s depiction of s-x and violence is an accurate representation of the world he wants to build. According to him, the rough and graphic portrayal immerses audiences in the unadulterated, unfiltered truth of the music business and its murkier undercurrents. He thinks that the show’s open portrayal is essential for illustrating the difficulties and costs associated with the quest for success and notoriety. Critics contend that the show’s portrayal of s-x and violence is exploitative and gratuitous. They claim that sexual content has no other function other than to shock viewers and may even help to reinforce negative stereotypes and desensitize viewers.
Source: Page Six
