HBO is halfway through its controversial new series The Idol, which has drawn even harsher reactions from fans on social media.
Last Sunday’s second episode, titled “Double Fantasy,” was criticized for showing Lily-Rose Depp’s Jocelyn masturbating and self-harming.
Sunday night’s new episode entitled “Daybreak” features even more sex scenes and masturbation scenes starring Jocelyn and Tedros (The Weeknd).
While some on social media seem to be enjoying the show, reactions have mostly been pretty negative, including one fan who was horrified by a joke about Jeffrey Epstein.
“@RielFlack added, ‘That Epstein joke was horrific,’ referring to a line from Eli Roth’s Andrew Finkelstein saying that Jocelyn ’causes me to have irritable bowel syndrome’.” as a kid on Epstein’s island.”
Tough: HBO has reached the halfway point of its controversial new series The Idol, prompting even harsher reactions from fans on social media
Epstein: @RielFlack added, “That Epstein joke was appalling.”
One viewer said he was “quitting” the show after Sunday night’s new episode.
“#TheIdol I’m quitting this goddamn show.” “It’s a big useless burger,” @The_Cro_Show tweeted.
He added, “If the point of the show was that I hate The Weeknd, then my mission is accomplished.”
The series is about Jocelyn, a popular pop star who is still grieving the death of her mother – who we learned on Sunday night’s episode had abused her for many years.
In one of his nightclubs, she meets the mysterious nightclub owner Tedros, who slowly begins to take over her life.
Sunday night’s episode began with Tedros waking Jocelyn and telling her to go shopping while her best friend/assistant Leia (Rachel Sennott) was driving her… while Tedros rolled over Jocelyn in the back seat while she was driving.
They also encounter a horde of fans and paparazzi, with Jocelyn posing for selfies with her fans. However, when they arrive at the Valentino store, Leia calls Jocelyn’s co-manager Chaim (Hank Azaria) and Destiny (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) to warn them about Tedros.
“This guy Tedros just took over the damn house,” Leia tells Chaim, adding that he fired Jocelyn’s trainer Andreas for no reason.
“Brother WHAT WAS THAT #theidol,” @itst_brooke said in a quote retweet of The Weeknd’s tweet about tonight’s episode.
Another disbelieving fan, @ka1tIyn11, tweeted: “What the heck is going on with the Reese’s peanut butter? #THEIDOL.”
Quitting: “#TheIdol I’m quitting this goddamn show.” “It’s a big no-good burger,” @The_Cro_Show tweeted
Jocelyn: The series is about Jocelyn, a popular pop star who still mourns the death of her mother – who we learned in Sunday night’s episode had abused her for many years
Downfall: Sunday night’s episode began with Tedros waking Jocelyn and telling her to go shopping while her best friend/assistant Leia (Rachel Sennott) was driving her… while Tedros ran over Jocelyn in the backseat while she was driving
Bro: “Brother WHAT WAS THAT #theidol,” said @itst_brooke in a quote retweet of The Weeknd’s tweet about tonight’s episode
Reeses: Another disbelieving fan, @ka1tIyn11, tweeted: “What the heck is going on with the Reeses peanut butter? #THEIDOL.”
@CryBabyWalker tweeted, “The Idol should have just been a 2 hour movie,” adding in another tweet, “To me it would have been translated as a movie rather than a show.”
@RexTestarosa added: “This idol show is horribly written like it’s really bad dude LOL.”
After Leia voices her concerns about Tedros, Chaim and Destiny wait inside the house for her return, where they eventually meet Tedros.
Tedros promises they’ll have three “hits” in the next two weeks, and while they seem intrigued by his supposed charm, they both admit in the car that they think Jocelyn is in trouble.
The show’s other controversial moments include Tedros and Jocelyn having sex at the Valentino store…but she makes him pull out when he says he’s going to cum inside her.
This leads to him masturbating in the store while Jocelyn waits, sipping champagne while the confused clerks listen.
Tedros’ short-tempered temper is also seen a couple of times, as he angrily yells at an employee he thinks is checking on Jocelyn, saying he’ll “curb and stomp” him.
Izaak (Moses Sumney) and Chloe (Suzanna Son) also reveal that Tedros doesn’t allow any of his people to say no to anything.
Movie: @CryBabyWalker tweeted, “The Idol should have just been a 2 hour movie,” adding in another tweet, “To me it would have been better translated as a movie than a show.”
Terrible: @RexTestarosa added: “This idol’s show is horribly written like it’s really bad dude LOL.”
Leia: After Leia voiced her concerns about Tedros, Chaim and Destiny wait inside the house for her return, where they eventually meet Tedros
Promise: Tedros promises they’ll have three “hits” in the next two weeks, and while they seem intrigued by his supposed charm, they both admit in the car that they think Jocelyn is in trouble
Sex: Among the show’s other controversial moments is Tedros and Jocelyn having sex at the Valentino store… but she makes him pull away when he says he’s going to cum inside her
Masturbating: This leads to him masturbating in the store while Jocelyn waits and sips champagne while confused staff members listen
Curb Stomp: Tedros’ short-tempered temper is also seen a few times, when he angrily yells at an employee he thinks is checking on Jocelyn, saying he’s going to “curb” him
No: Izaak (Moses Sumney) and Chloe (Suzanna Son) also reveal that Tedros doesn’t allow any of his people to say no to anything
Some, like @InscribeWonders, were impressed with the show, tweeting, “Episode 3 of #TheIdol was so damn good!”
Another fan, “@iHateChantelle, mused, “I started #TheIdol and damn is that girl supposed to be Britney???”
During a dinner scene, it is revealed that Jocelyn’s mother, who lost her to cancer just before the show started, was quite abusive to her.
During a dinner at her house, she revealed to everyone that she abused her with a hairbrush and hit her to give her some “motivation” for her career.
The manipulative Tedros gets her to admit that she lacks that motivation and proceeds to swear at her with the same harshness as her mother, which fans didn’t take kindly to.
@taygonda tweeted, “Tedros hits her with the same brush her mom abused her with???” “Was that supposed to be sexy?”
@cvntoure added, “WTF IS WRONG ABOUT TEDROS DAMAGING A**,” adding in another tweet, “Tedros is NOT going to talk to her like that.”
@TopherFrance added, “I’m sorry but Sam Levinson needs therapy and Abel needs acting classes.” This is so bad #TheIdolHBO #TheIdol.
Good: Some, like @InscribeWonders, were impressed with the show and tweeted, “Episode 3 of #TheIdol was so freaking good!”
Britney: Another fan, “@iHateChantelle, mused, “I started #TheIdol and damn, is that girl supposed to be Britney???”
Abuse: The manipulative Tedros gets her to admit that she misses that motivation and abuses her with the same harshness as her mother, which fans didn’t take kindly to
Abuse: @taygonda tweeted, “Tedros hits her with the same brush her mother abused her with???” Is that supposed to be sexy?
WTF: @cvntoure added: “WTF IS WRONG WITH TEDROS ABUSIVE A**”
Adds: @cvntoure added in another tweet: “Tedros will NOT talk to her like that.”
Topher: @TopherFrance added, “I’m sorry but Sam Levinson needs therapy and Abel needs acting classes.” This is so bad #TheIdolHBO #TheIdol
Hooked: Still, some fans enjoyed it, such as @ETonthehandles, who said “This episode of #TheIdol was so dark.” Good work from The Weeknd, I can’t lie. I’m addicted, I’m afraid
Better: @AScagel added, “I honestly feel like The Idol gets better with every episode.” Abel’s performance in this film was great and it REALLY makes you hate Tedros but also makes you feel pathetic and small to watch. He’s done some terrible things and I love Abel, but I can’t wait to see Tedros destroyed.
Potential: @BrandenCarter4 added, “Look at that dinner scene I’m talking about.” This show wants to be good. There are moments when you can see the potential.
Worst: @leipsicbrendan1 added, “I saw The Idol with my wife.” I can honestly say it’s the worst show ever. BUT! It’s so bad you can’t look away.
The Worst: @Snowvantebear added, “I didn’t think The Weekend and Sam Levinson could do anything worse than Episode 2, but they fucking nailed it in the first 20 minutes of Episode 3.”
Hairbrush: @saturnbabey shared a meme of a woman with her mouth open, adding: “Not Tedros asking for the hairbrush.”
Fear not: @cvntoure added: “Tedros doesn’t scare anyone, sorry.”
Emmy: @LillyWindsorr added, “He thought he’d get an Emmy for that.”
Sex scene: @cvntoure tweeted a meme of Adele adding: “This is like the fourth sex scene and we’re not even 30 minutes into it.”
Worse, @Snowvantebear tweeted, “I didn’t think The Weekend and Sam Levinson could do anything worse than Episode 2, but in the first 20 minutes of Episode 3 they fucking nailed it.”
Sick: @JazVaughn tweeted: “…but what a SICK S**T…”
Still, some fans liked it like @ETonthehandles who said “This episode of #TheIdol was so dark.” Good performance from The Weeknd, I can’t lie. I’m afraid I’m addicted.’
@AScagel added, “I honestly feel like The Idol is getting better with every episode.” Abel’s performance in this film was great and it REALLY makes you hate Tedros but also makes you see him as pathetic and small. He’s done some terrible things and I love Abel, but I can’t wait to see Tedros perish.”
@BrandenCarter4 added, “Look at that dinner scene I’m talking about.” This show wants to be good. There are moments when you can see the potential.”
@leipsicbrendan1 added, “I saw The Idol with my wife.” I can honestly say it’s the worst show ever. BUT! It’s so bad you can’t look away.’