The Weeknd Addresses Backlash Over Awkward 'The Idol' Sex Scene
The Weeknd is addressing that very awkward sex scene from episode two of The Idol.
In the episode, the 33-year-old entertainer’s character Tedros blindfolds popstar Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) and instructs her to perform various sex acts.
While many viewers cringed at the scene, The Weeknd admitted that he wanted viewers to feel that way.
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“There’s nothing sexy about it,” The Weeknd shared with GQ. “When we use Basic Instinct as a reference, we’re using [filmmaker Paul] Verhoeven. Verhoeven is the king of ’90s satire thriller — yes, there’s moments of ‘sexy’ in his films but there are other moments that are very cheesy and hilarious.”
He continued, “However you’re feeling watching that scene, whether it’s discomfort, or you feel gross, or you feel embarrassed for the characters. It’s all those emotions adding up to: This guy is in way over his head, this situation is one where he is not supposed to be here.”
The Weeknd later argued that the scene added to Tedros’ rehearsed and “calculated” vibes to control Jocelyn, adding, “he needs to do that, or he has nothing, he’s pathetic.”
“You look at him, and this is a score — Jocelyn might be the biggest score he’s ever had,” The Weeknd explained. “It’s very obvious. He’s over-indulging, he walks into this house looking around like, ‘Godamn, am I way over my head? This can be the biggest job I’ve ever done.’”
“Whatever it is that he’s doing. Even the sex, it’s so gluttonous, Especially in Episode 2. ‘Gluttony’ is the only word I can think of [to describe it],” The Weeknd continued. “He can’t believe he’s there. He comes off like such a loser. Those moments are the humanity that you find in a psychopath, the chink in his armor.”
Find out which star’s recent impersonation of Lily-Rose‘s character earned The Weeknd‘s stamp of approval!
New episodes of The Idol air on Sundays at 9pm ET on HBO and Max.