A New Report Alleged How Offensive Some Suggested Plotlines Were For Sam Levinson’s “Euphoria” Follow-Up “The Idol”

Warning: Discussion of rape.A new report from Rolling Stone has added to speculation surrounding the upcoming HBO series The Idol.

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For context, news that HBO had ordered the series hit in November 2021. The series was co-created by The Weeknd, his producing partner Reza Fahim, and Euphoria creator Sam Levinson. Amy Seimetz, who directed The Girlfriend Experience and some episodes of Atlanta, was attached to direct it.

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While exact details around the plot were kept under wraps, it was broadly to center the relationship between a pop singer (played by Lily Rose Depp) and an LA cult leader (played by The Weeknd). However, things took a turn when HBO announced in April 2022 — after months of shooting — that the cast and crew would be “adjusting” following the creative team deciding to “build, refine, and evolve their vision for the show.” Siemetz was out: Levinson was in as director.

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Reports began emerging that The Weeknd was unhappy with the show’s “female perspective” that centered Lily Rose’s character and called for reshoots — something that he was able to do, as co-creator. New cast members, such as BLACKPINK’s Jennie and Schitt’s Creek’s Dan Levy, were added. Teaser trailers began to drop praising the “sick and twisted minds” of Levinson and The Weeknd.

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Fast forward to today, and Rolling Stone dropped a story based on interviews from 13 cast and crew members, detailing a tumultuous creative process and questionable rewrites. “It went from satire to the thing it was satirizing,” said one source.

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“It was like any rape fantasy that any toxic man would have in the show — and then the woman comes back for more because it makes her music better,” said another source of Levinson’s vision of the show.

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A limited budget, strict production deadlines, a first-time showrunner, and the absence of Levinson while Euphoria Season 2 reportedly made Siemetz’s job “impossible.” One source explained, “It’s really frustrating seeing Amy doing her damn best to turn around some kind of product that she can be somewhat proud of to HBO… and then [for HBO] to turn around and have Sam get essentially a blank check to turn it into ‘Euphoria Season 3 with pop stars’ is extremely, extremely frustrating.”

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Rewrites on the script allegedly became a joke and production became chaotic. However, the piece seconds that The Weeknd was the one who wanted the reshoots and to drop the “feminist lens.” Another source said, “It was like The Weeknd wanted one show that was all about him — Sam was on board with that.” It’s worth noting that this was apparently strategically difficult, given that he was on tour at the time.

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Under Levinson, a chaotic shoot continued through October, despite a wrap party in July. However, it was the content of the revamped show that alarmed some crew and cast members. In the words of one source, “It was a show about a woman who was finding herself sexually, turned into a show about a man who gets to abuse this woman and she loves it.”

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Such rewrites reportedly included “extreme” sexual and violent content. In one draft episode, that was reportedly shot, there was allegedly a scene where Lily Rose’s character was hit in the face by The Weeknd’s and then asked to be beaten more, which gave his character an erection. Another suggestion was reportedly for Lily Rose’s character to carry an egg in her vagina, which, if it broke, would result in The Weeknd’s character refusing to “rape” her leading for her to beg for it, believing it was the cause of her success (this allegedly wasn’t shot because Lily Rose would have had to physically insert the egg).

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“It was like sexual torture porn,” said one source. Another echoed, “There is no point. They’re just trying to see how much of a reaction they can get.”

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Following the release of the report, some took to Twitter as the show and Levinson’s name began to trend — especially given their track record of handling sex and nudity in the teen show Euphoria:So, what does HBO say? Well, in a statement to Rolling Stone, it called the show one of the network’s “most exciting and provocative original programs,” and said that “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.”

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Lily Rose further called Levinson “the best director” she’s worked with and said in the statement that she has never “felt more supported or respected in a creative space, my input and opinions more valued.”

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The Idol should be released in June.

You can read the full Rolling Stone piece here.