The Weeknd is pledging another $2 million to help feed families in Gaza. The donation comes from his Xo Humanitarian Fund, which helps combat global hunger. The $2 million will be used to make more than 18 million loaves of bread and feed more than 157,000 Palestinians for a month, the Un’s World Food Programme (Wfp) reported Monday.
“With famine looming in Gaza, Abel’s generous support will provide vital relief for thousands of Palestinian families who battle the grip of hunger every day,” Corinne Fleischer, the Wfp’s director for the Middle East,...
“With famine looming in Gaza, Abel’s generous support will provide vital relief for thousands of Palestinian families who battle the grip of hunger every day,” Corinne Fleischer, the Wfp’s director for the Middle East,...
- 4/29/2024
- by Kalia Richardson
- Rollingstone.com
What are the greatest songs by Ariana Grande? The singer with her signature powerhouse voice has made a name for herself on the charts and on the awards scene, so we’ve ranked our favorite songs she has recorded … so far. Did your favorite make the cut? And what do you think of our choice for her best song ever?
Grande started out on Broadway when she was just 15 in the musical “13,” which featured an entirely teenage cast. Then she broke out even bigger a couple of years later when she played Cat Valentine in the Nickelodeon comedy “Victorious” in the early 2010s and then its spinoff “Sam and Cat.”
SEEBiggest Grammy Winners of All Time: See The Most Awarded Artists
Like other artists who came before her — including Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato — she turned her notoriety on kids’ TV into a bestselling music career.
Grande started out on Broadway when she was just 15 in the musical “13,” which featured an entirely teenage cast. Then she broke out even bigger a couple of years later when she played Cat Valentine in the Nickelodeon comedy “Victorious” in the early 2010s and then its spinoff “Sam and Cat.”
SEEBiggest Grammy Winners of All Time: See The Most Awarded Artists
Like other artists who came before her — including Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato — she turned her notoriety on kids’ TV into a bestselling music career.
- 3/22/2024
- by Kevin Jacobsen and Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Producer Mike Dean celebrated his birthday Friday night at Los Angeles’ the Wiltern, and two of the artists he recently helped out in the studio — the Weeknd and Travis Scott — were in attendance to serve as onstage guests.
The Weeknd — who worked with Dean on 2015’s Beauty Behind the Madness up through The Idol soundtrack — opened with an unlikely song selection, delivering a synth-laden rendition of “In Heaven (Lady in the Radiator Song)” from the David Lynch film Eraserhead.
After that, the singer born Abel Tesfaye segued into his unreleased...
The Weeknd — who worked with Dean on 2015’s Beauty Behind the Madness up through The Idol soundtrack — opened with an unlikely song selection, delivering a synth-laden rendition of “In Heaven (Lady in the Radiator Song)” from the David Lynch film Eraserhead.
After that, the singer born Abel Tesfaye segued into his unreleased...
- 3/2/2024
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
Jenna Ortega is teasing a more terrifying Season 2 of “Wednesday.”
The Netflix series, which landed Ortega her first Emmy nomination, will begin filming in April. Ortega told E! News at the 2023 Emmys on Monday, January 15, that the new scripts lean more into the horror elements of the Tim Burton series. Ortega is also serving as an executive producer for the second season.
“I’ve received some scripts for the second season, and we’re definitely leaning into more horror,” Ortega said. “It’s really, really exciting because, all throughout the show, while Wednesday does need a little bit of an arc, she never really changes, and that’s the wonderful thing about her.
Ortega continued, “There’s really, really good one-liners, and I think everything’s bigger. It’s a lot more action-packed. Each episode will probably feel a little bit more like a movie, which is nice.”
Season 2 also...
The Netflix series, which landed Ortega her first Emmy nomination, will begin filming in April. Ortega told E! News at the 2023 Emmys on Monday, January 15, that the new scripts lean more into the horror elements of the Tim Burton series. Ortega is also serving as an executive producer for the second season.
“I’ve received some scripts for the second season, and we’re definitely leaning into more horror,” Ortega said. “It’s really, really exciting because, all throughout the show, while Wednesday does need a little bit of an arc, she never really changes, and that’s the wonderful thing about her.
Ortega continued, “There’s really, really good one-liners, and I think everything’s bigger. It’s a lot more action-packed. Each episode will probably feel a little bit more like a movie, which is nice.”
Season 2 also...
- 1/16/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Dan Levy admitted that he was too “busy” to finish watching The Idol last summer, especially after one of his scenes was cut from the HBO show.
The actor played Benjamin, Jocelyn’s (Lily-Rose Depp) publicist, in the controversial five-episode series, but his character appeared only in the first episode, and another scene never made it in the final cut of the show.
Now, more than six months after The Idol premiered in June, Levy made an appearance on Tuesday’s episode of Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen and was asked by Cohen on behalf of a fan: “Why were your scenes cut from The Idol, and what did you really think of the show?”
Though the Schitt’s Creek star seemed to be a bit taken aback by the question, he said in response after giving it some thought, “I think it was only one scene that was cut.
The actor played Benjamin, Jocelyn’s (Lily-Rose Depp) publicist, in the controversial five-episode series, but his character appeared only in the first episode, and another scene never made it in the final cut of the show.
Now, more than six months after The Idol premiered in June, Levy made an appearance on Tuesday’s episode of Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen and was asked by Cohen on behalf of a fan: “Why were your scenes cut from The Idol, and what did you really think of the show?”
Though the Schitt’s Creek star seemed to be a bit taken aback by the question, he said in response after giving it some thought, “I think it was only one scene that was cut.
- 1/10/2024
- by Carly Thomas
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
An untitled film led by Jenna Ortega, Barry Keoghan and The Weeknd is said to be a loose remake of the 1990 thriller, Misery.
We’ve known for a little while that filmmaker Trey Edward Shults is cooking up something interesting for his next film, but according to reports, he may actually be tackling a ‘loose remake’ of Stephen King’s Misery. King’s 1987 novel got a classic adaptation from director Rob Reiner in 1990 – it’s the one where a crazed fan keeps her favourite writer hostage, forcing him to rewrite his stories to suit her tastes.
The cast that the It Comes At Night and Krisha filmmaker has assembled for the project already made a few waves when it was first announced: both Barry Keoghan and Jenna Ortega are very much in demand at the moment. Music star The Weeknd (aka Abel Tesfaye) is also set to appear. And while...
We’ve known for a little while that filmmaker Trey Edward Shults is cooking up something interesting for his next film, but according to reports, he may actually be tackling a ‘loose remake’ of Stephen King’s Misery. King’s 1987 novel got a classic adaptation from director Rob Reiner in 1990 – it’s the one where a crazed fan keeps her favourite writer hostage, forcing him to rewrite his stories to suit her tastes.
The cast that the It Comes At Night and Krisha filmmaker has assembled for the project already made a few waves when it was first announced: both Barry Keoghan and Jenna Ortega are very much in demand at the moment. Music star The Weeknd (aka Abel Tesfaye) is also set to appear. And while...
- 1/5/2024
- by Dan Cooper
- Film Stories
Jenna Ortega is trying on playing a seductress for size. The “Beetlejuice 2” and “Wednesday” star leads psychological thriller “Miller’s Girl” in what appears to be a ’90s-esque tale of twisted teen power dynamics set against the backdrop of an elite university.
Martin Freeman stars as the titular Mr. Miller, a teacher who becomes entangled with talented student Cairo (Ortega), who has an agenda all her own. As 18-year-old Cairo taunts Mr. Miller into a game of truth or dare, a more sinister scheme of blackmailing ensues.
The official synopsis reads: “A talented young writer (Ortega) embarks on a creative odyssey when her teacher (Freeman) assigns a project that entangles them both in an increasingly complex web. As lines blur and their lives intertwine, professor and protégé must confront their darkest selves while straining to preserve their individual sense of purpose and the things they hold most dear.”
Dagmara Domińczyk,...
Martin Freeman stars as the titular Mr. Miller, a teacher who becomes entangled with talented student Cairo (Ortega), who has an agenda all her own. As 18-year-old Cairo taunts Mr. Miller into a game of truth or dare, a more sinister scheme of blackmailing ensues.
The official synopsis reads: “A talented young writer (Ortega) embarks on a creative odyssey when her teacher (Freeman) assigns a project that entangles them both in an increasingly complex web. As lines blur and their lives intertwine, professor and protégé must confront their darkest selves while straining to preserve their individual sense of purpose and the things they hold most dear.”
Dagmara Domińczyk,...
- 12/14/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
The Weeknd’s Xo Humanitarian Fund is directing $2.5 million to Gaza, which will pay for the equivalent of more than four million emergency meals for affected civilians. The Un’s World Food Programme (Wfp) reports that the money pays for 820 metric tons of food, which could feed more than 173,000 Palestinians for two weeks.
The artist, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, stepped into the role of Goodwill Ambassador for the Wfp initiative in October 2021. He set up his Xo Humanitarian Fund with the World Food Program USA, which has raised...
The artist, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, stepped into the role of Goodwill Ambassador for the Wfp initiative in October 2021. He set up his Xo Humanitarian Fund with the World Food Program USA, which has raised...
- 12/1/2023
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
The Weeknd has donated $2.5 million towards providing four million emergency meals to Palestinians in Gaza.
The singer, born Abel Tesfaye, is directing money from his Xo Humanitarian Fund to benefit the United Nations World Food Programme. The Wfp — of which Tesfaye is also a Goodwill Ambassador — is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, and has been helping hundreds of thousands of Gazans in crisis and on the brink of starvation amid their siege under Israel.
“This conflict has unleashed a humanitarian catastrophe beyond reckoning,” reads a statement from Corinne Fleischer, Wfp’s Director for the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe Region. “Wfp is working round the clock to provide aid in Gaza but a major scale up is needed to address the desperate level of hunger we are seeing. Our teams need safe and sustained humanitarian access, and continued support from donors to reach as many people as we can.
The singer, born Abel Tesfaye, is directing money from his Xo Humanitarian Fund to benefit the United Nations World Food Programme. The Wfp — of which Tesfaye is also a Goodwill Ambassador — is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, and has been helping hundreds of thousands of Gazans in crisis and on the brink of starvation amid their siege under Israel.
“This conflict has unleashed a humanitarian catastrophe beyond reckoning,” reads a statement from Corinne Fleischer, Wfp’s Director for the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe Region. “Wfp is working round the clock to provide aid in Gaza but a major scale up is needed to address the desperate level of hunger we are seeing. Our teams need safe and sustained humanitarian access, and continued support from donors to reach as many people as we can.
- 12/1/2023
- by Abby Jones
- Consequence - Music
Jenna Ortega may be a fan of scary movies, but she’s no longer a part of the “Scream 7.”
Following rumors that Ortega was looking to part ways with the Spyglassfilms after her breakout role in Netflix series “Wednesday,” the actress confirmed she will not appear in “Scream 7,” sources tell IndieWire. Deadline first reported the news, citing that Ortega’s contract was being reevaluated prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike. Ortega is set to film “Wednesday” Season 2 in Ireland from April 2024 into the summer, and that “Scream 7” has a scheduling conflict.
Ortega starred in the fifth “Scream” film as Tara Carpenter, which served as a franchise reboot (meta-ly deemed “requel” in the movie). She reprised the role for “Scream VI.”
Ortega’s announcement comes on the heels of co-star Melissa Barrera, who plays Ortega’s onscreen half-sister, being fired for antisemitic comments that production company Spyglass Entertainment deemed antisemitic.
Following rumors that Ortega was looking to part ways with the Spyglassfilms after her breakout role in Netflix series “Wednesday,” the actress confirmed she will not appear in “Scream 7,” sources tell IndieWire. Deadline first reported the news, citing that Ortega’s contract was being reevaluated prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike. Ortega is set to film “Wednesday” Season 2 in Ireland from April 2024 into the summer, and that “Scream 7” has a scheduling conflict.
Ortega starred in the fifth “Scream” film as Tara Carpenter, which served as a franchise reboot (meta-ly deemed “requel” in the movie). She reprised the role for “Scream VI.”
Ortega’s announcement comes on the heels of co-star Melissa Barrera, who plays Ortega’s onscreen half-sister, being fired for antisemitic comments that production company Spyglass Entertainment deemed antisemitic.
- 11/22/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
After Krisha (2015), It Comes at Night (2017) and Waves (2019), American indie filmmaker Trey Edward Shults might actually be shooting from both sides of the hip in 2024. The first project to see the light could very well be a film he developed with Abel Tesfaye aka “The Weeknd”. They co-wrote the currently untitled project together, and The Weeknd stars alongside Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan. Cinematographer Chayse Irvin is onboard and for the composers we find Opn + The Weeknd. Production would have taken place in February so this is more than ready acquisitions.
Gist: The project has no logline yet but was written by Shults, Tesfaye and Reza Fahim.…...
Gist: The project has no logline yet but was written by Shults, Tesfaye and Reza Fahim.…...
- 11/17/2023
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
The Weeknd and Simi Khadra are still going strong as a couple and we have new photos from a recent date night!
The 33-year-old singer and the 30-year-old DJ were spotted leaving a dinner date on Sunday (November 12) at Italian restaurant Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica, Calif.
The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, and Simi were both seen trying to keep a low profile while exiting the popular restaurant.
They were also spotted out for dinner back in September.
The couple has been together since at least early 2022, when they were spotted sharing a kiss at his birthday party in Las Vegas. One thing that fans have found surprising is that Simi happens to be best friends with one of The Weeknd‘s most famous ex-girlfriends.
Browse through the gallery for 30+ photos of The Weeknd and Simi Khadra leaving the dinner date…...
The 33-year-old singer and the 30-year-old DJ were spotted leaving a dinner date on Sunday (November 12) at Italian restaurant Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica, Calif.
The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, and Simi were both seen trying to keep a low profile while exiting the popular restaurant.
They were also spotted out for dinner back in September.
The couple has been together since at least early 2022, when they were spotted sharing a kiss at his birthday party in Las Vegas. One thing that fans have found surprising is that Simi happens to be best friends with one of The Weeknd‘s most famous ex-girlfriends.
Browse through the gallery for 30+ photos of The Weeknd and Simi Khadra leaving the dinner date…...
- 11/14/2023
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
Kevin Turen, a producer on “Euphoria,” “The Idol,” and Ti West’s “X” trilogy,” died over the weekend. He was 44. A cause of death is not yet known.
Jay Penske, CEO of Variety‘s parent company Penske Media Corporation, was a close friend of Turen’s and released a statement on his passing.
“Despite his many achievements in Hollywood, Kevin’s greatest passion was his family and friends,” Penske said. “He was so proud of his children. He and his wife, Evelina, were resolved that their children grow up with great values and ensured they make a difference in the broader world. Our collective heart breaks for them, and we all feel such a profound sense of loss. We will miss Kevin so much, and this town lost one of its brightest rising stars today.”
Turen was known for working alongside Sam Levinson and Ashley Levinson, having co-founded Little Lamb Productions...
Jay Penske, CEO of Variety‘s parent company Penske Media Corporation, was a close friend of Turen’s and released a statement on his passing.
“Despite his many achievements in Hollywood, Kevin’s greatest passion was his family and friends,” Penske said. “He was so proud of his children. He and his wife, Evelina, were resolved that their children grow up with great values and ensured they make a difference in the broader world. Our collective heart breaks for them, and we all feel such a profound sense of loss. We will miss Kevin so much, and this town lost one of its brightest rising stars today.”
Turen was known for working alongside Sam Levinson and Ashley Levinson, having co-founded Little Lamb Productions...
- 11/13/2023
- by Jaden Thompson
- Variety Film + TV
In the wake of allegations that his division used fake Twitter accounts to undermine TV critics posting tepid reviews of HBO programming, network chief executive Casey Bloys addressed the claim during a meeting with the press on Thursday.
At a presentation of HBO’s 2024 content slate, Bloys cast the Twitter accounts as part of a pandemic-era “dumb idea.”
“For those of you who know me, you know that I am a programming executive, very, very passionate about the shows that we decided to do, and the people who do them and the people who work on them, I want the shows to be great,” Bloys said, adding: “So when you think of that mindset, and then think of 2020 and 2021. I’m working from home, spending an unhealthy amount of time scrolling through Twitter. And I came up with a very, very dumb idea to vent my frustration.”
The HBO chief elaborated: “Obviously,...
At a presentation of HBO’s 2024 content slate, Bloys cast the Twitter accounts as part of a pandemic-era “dumb idea.”
“For those of you who know me, you know that I am a programming executive, very, very passionate about the shows that we decided to do, and the people who do them and the people who work on them, I want the shows to be great,” Bloys said, adding: “So when you think of that mindset, and then think of 2020 and 2021. I’m working from home, spending an unhealthy amount of time scrolling through Twitter. And I came up with a very, very dumb idea to vent my frustration.”
The HBO chief elaborated: “Obviously,...
- 11/2/2023
- by Winston Cho and Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
HBO has responded to allegations arising from a wrongful termination dispute with an ex-employee that accuse Casey Bloys, the network’s then-president of original programming, of commanding a “secret army” to push back against TV critics posting tepid reviews of HBO titles. In a statement, the company did not challenge claims that Bloys and another executive directed ex-hbo executive assistant Sully Temori to post from fake accounts, with the aim of undermining high-profile critics, as well as anonymous commenters on articles.
“HBO intends to vigorously defend against Mr. Temori’s allegations,” a spokesperson said. “We are not going to comment on select exchanges between programmers and errant tweets.”
The story was first reported by Rolling Stone. It draws upon a trove of messages that will be filed in a lawsuit from Temori against HBO, Warner Media, Kathleen McCaffrey, HBO’s senior vice president of drama programming, and Francesca Orsi, HBO’s head of drama.
“HBO intends to vigorously defend against Mr. Temori’s allegations,” a spokesperson said. “We are not going to comment on select exchanges between programmers and errant tweets.”
The story was first reported by Rolling Stone. It draws upon a trove of messages that will be filed in a lawsuit from Temori against HBO, Warner Media, Kathleen McCaffrey, HBO’s senior vice president of drama programming, and Francesca Orsi, HBO’s head of drama.
- 11/1/2023
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Like all of us, Olivia Rodrigo is not interested in The Idol. The singer discussed The Weeknd and Sam Levinson’s now-canceled HBO series in an interview with The Guardian, subtly arguing that their portrayal of the pop machine failed to depict womanhood in the same powerful way as, say, Barbie.
“I don’t have the desire to [watch it],” Rodrigo said. “I remember walking out of Barbie and being like, ‘Wow, it’s so long since I’ve seen a movie that is female-centred in a way that isn’t sexual or about her pain or her being traumatised.’”
The Idol, starring Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye), was originally pitched as a satire on the music industry that follows Depp’s pop star Jocelyn as she frees herself from a toxic relationship with Tesfaye’s club owner/cult leader Tedros. However, when Euphoria head Levinson took over the show...
“I don’t have the desire to [watch it],” Rodrigo said. “I remember walking out of Barbie and being like, ‘Wow, it’s so long since I’ve seen a movie that is female-centred in a way that isn’t sexual or about her pain or her being traumatised.’”
The Idol, starring Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye), was originally pitched as a satire on the music industry that follows Depp’s pop star Jocelyn as she frees herself from a toxic relationship with Tesfaye’s club owner/cult leader Tedros. However, when Euphoria head Levinson took over the show...
- 9/3/2023
- by Carys Anderson
- Consequence - Music
The Weeknd won’t be collaborating anymore.
Earlier this month, during a stop in Warsaw on his After Hours Til Dawn Tour, the Canadian singer revealed that his as-yet-unreleased song “Another One of Me” would be his last collab.
Read More: The Weeknd’s Reaction To Fan’s Terrible Singing Voice Goes Viral
“I just wanna say that this is gonna be the last feature I ever do, ever in my career,” he told the crowd.
At the time, he did not actually reveal who the other artist involved in the collaboration was, or when the song would be released.
On Wednesday, though, Sean “Diddy” Combs revealed that the song will be featured on his upcoming The Love Album: Off The Grid.
“It’s official, @theweeknd ’s last collab of his career will be on… The Love Album: Off The Grid!” Diddy wrote in an Instagram post making the announcement,...
Earlier this month, during a stop in Warsaw on his After Hours Til Dawn Tour, the Canadian singer revealed that his as-yet-unreleased song “Another One of Me” would be his last collab.
Read More: The Weeknd’s Reaction To Fan’s Terrible Singing Voice Goes Viral
“I just wanna say that this is gonna be the last feature I ever do, ever in my career,” he told the crowd.
At the time, he did not actually reveal who the other artist involved in the collaboration was, or when the song would be released.
On Wednesday, though, Sean “Diddy” Combs revealed that the song will be featured on his upcoming The Love Album: Off The Grid.
“It’s official, @theweeknd ’s last collab of his career will be on… The Love Album: Off The Grid!” Diddy wrote in an Instagram post making the announcement,...
- 8/31/2023
- by Corey Atad
- ET Canada
Taylor Swift just keeps breaking records.
For her latest achievement, Swift has now become the first female artist ever to reach 100 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
Read More: What To Watch While Waiting For Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’ Tickets
The music streaming service made it official in a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), revealing that Swift passed the 100-million mark on Tuesday, Aug. 29
Queen behavior On August 29th, Taylor Swift became the first female artist in Spotify history to reach 100 million monthly listeners. pic.twitter.com/p7smvexszE
— Spotify (@Spotify) August 29, 2023
Meanwhile, it looks like The Weeknd had better watch his back.
The erstwhile Abel Tesfaye currently holds Spotify’s top spot for monthly listeners overall, having topped 110 million per month.
Read More: Taylor Swift Seemingly Shades Kanye West During Eras Tour Stop In Mexico
He’s followed by Swift at second place, and then Bad Bunny with 80 million,...
For her latest achievement, Swift has now become the first female artist ever to reach 100 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
Read More: What To Watch While Waiting For Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’ Tickets
The music streaming service made it official in a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), revealing that Swift passed the 100-million mark on Tuesday, Aug. 29
Queen behavior On August 29th, Taylor Swift became the first female artist in Spotify history to reach 100 million monthly listeners. pic.twitter.com/p7smvexszE
— Spotify (@Spotify) August 29, 2023
Meanwhile, it looks like The Weeknd had better watch his back.
The erstwhile Abel Tesfaye currently holds Spotify’s top spot for monthly listeners overall, having topped 110 million per month.
Read More: Taylor Swift Seemingly Shades Kanye West During Eras Tour Stop In Mexico
He’s followed by Swift at second place, and then Bad Bunny with 80 million,...
- 8/30/2023
- by Brent Furdyk
- ET Canada
Following the news that HBO cancelled “The Idol” after one season, social media is sounding off on the end of the controversial show.
While most fans of cancelled shows typically rally to help save it, “The Idol” viewers and those who haven’t even seen HBO’s latest drama celebrated as they’d hoped the show would get cancelled since the day it premiered.
Read More: ‘The Idol’ Actress Jane Adams Slams Feminists Suggesting Unsafe Set: ‘Go F–k Yourself’
Following the Sam Levinson and Abel Tesfaye-created show’s June 4 premiere date, episode 2 saw an astronomical dip in viewership, as per Variety, in which it dropped by almost 12 per cent from 913,000 viewers who tuned in to watch the pilot episode to only 800,000 people who watched the second episode.
Lily-Rose Depp and Abel, The Weeknd, Tesfaye in “The Idol”. — Photo: Warner Bros. Discovery
On Rotten Tomatoes, “The Idol” has a...
While most fans of cancelled shows typically rally to help save it, “The Idol” viewers and those who haven’t even seen HBO’s latest drama celebrated as they’d hoped the show would get cancelled since the day it premiered.
Read More: ‘The Idol’ Actress Jane Adams Slams Feminists Suggesting Unsafe Set: ‘Go F–k Yourself’
Following the Sam Levinson and Abel Tesfaye-created show’s June 4 premiere date, episode 2 saw an astronomical dip in viewership, as per Variety, in which it dropped by almost 12 per cent from 913,000 viewers who tuned in to watch the pilot episode to only 800,000 people who watched the second episode.
Lily-Rose Depp and Abel, The Weeknd, Tesfaye in “The Idol”. — Photo: Warner Bros. Discovery
On Rotten Tomatoes, “The Idol” has a...
- 8/29/2023
- by Melissa Romualdi
- ET Canada
Despite some reports otherwise, season 1 of "The Idol" was completed with only five episodes — and now, that's all the show will ever have. Variety reports that HBO has canceled the series, waiting not even two months after its July 2 finale. Co-created by Sam Levinson (who previously struck gold for HBO with "Euphoria"), "The Idol" is a Hollywood satire about Britney Spears-esque pop starlet Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) and her romance with cult leader Tedros.
After a May 22 premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, "The Idol" premiered on HBO on June 4 and was panned by most critics (read /Film's own comparatively positive review here). It holds a mere 18 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes and audience scores are of the negative variety as well.
Writing for The Guardian, Leila Latif described "The Idol" as "one of the worst [programs] ever made." Lovia Gyarkye of the Hollywood Reporter wrote:
"The show is suspiciously...
After a May 22 premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, "The Idol" premiered on HBO on June 4 and was panned by most critics (read /Film's own comparatively positive review here). It holds a mere 18 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes and audience scores are of the negative variety as well.
Writing for The Guardian, Leila Latif described "The Idol" as "one of the worst [programs] ever made." Lovia Gyarkye of the Hollywood Reporter wrote:
"The show is suspiciously...
- 8/29/2023
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Add The Idol to the list of shows that are only one season. HBO has canceled the drama, according to Deadline. “The Idol was one of HBO’s most provocative original programs, and we’re pleased by the strong audience response. After much thought and consideration, HBO, as well as the creators and producers have decided not to move forward with a second season. We’re grateful to the creators, cast, and crew for their incredible work,” a spokeswoman for HBO said in a statement. There was controversy surrounding the series from Sam Levinson and Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd) and its sex scenes before it even premiered, with the original director Amy Seimetz exiting. Then, after the second episode aired, there were rumors it had already been canceled, prompting HBO to release a statement that it had not. “It is being misreported that a decision on a second season of The Idol has been determined,...
- 8/28/2023
- TV Insider
I’m sure everyone saw this coming, but now it’s official — HBO has canceled The Idol after one season, bringing an end to the controversial drama series starring Lily-Rose Depp and Abel Tesfaye.
“The Idol was one of HBO’s most provocative original programs, and we’re pleased by the strong audience response. After much thought and consideration, HBO, as well as the creators and producers have decided not to move forward with a second season. We’re grateful to the creators, cast, and crew for their incredible work,” said an HBO spokeswoman.
The Idol was a huge success upon release, with 3.6 million viewers tuning in for the first episode over its first week on Max. That’s more than the series premieres of The White Lotus and Euphoria, two other big HBO hits. It also generated its fair share of press thanks to its over-the-top content. It was...
“The Idol was one of HBO’s most provocative original programs, and we’re pleased by the strong audience response. After much thought and consideration, HBO, as well as the creators and producers have decided not to move forward with a second season. We’re grateful to the creators, cast, and crew for their incredible work,” said an HBO spokeswoman.
The Idol was a huge success upon release, with 3.6 million viewers tuning in for the first episode over its first week on Max. That’s more than the series premieres of The White Lotus and Euphoria, two other big HBO hits. It also generated its fair share of press thanks to its over-the-top content. It was...
- 8/28/2023
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
The Idol is one and done at HBO.
The controversial series from Euphoria creator Sam Levinson and Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, will not be returning for a second season.
It’s not a huge surprise given the critical and commercial reception of the show, which starred Tesfaye and Lily-Rose Depp. It also came after extensive reshoots following the departure of director Amy Seimetz, as revealed by Deadline in April 2022, and a reduced order taking its total number of episodes to five.
Some of the cast did mention the possibility of a second season during interviews, though show insiders said that creators did not come into the production process with a plan for a multi-season arc.
Da’Vine Joy Randolph, who played one of the managers of Depp’s pop star Jocelyn, previously said that the first season was left intentionally open-ended for the possibility of a second.
“The Idol...
The controversial series from Euphoria creator Sam Levinson and Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, will not be returning for a second season.
It’s not a huge surprise given the critical and commercial reception of the show, which starred Tesfaye and Lily-Rose Depp. It also came after extensive reshoots following the departure of director Amy Seimetz, as revealed by Deadline in April 2022, and a reduced order taking its total number of episodes to five.
Some of the cast did mention the possibility of a second season during interviews, though show insiders said that creators did not come into the production process with a plan for a multi-season arc.
Da’Vine Joy Randolph, who played one of the managers of Depp’s pop star Jocelyn, previously said that the first season was left intentionally open-ended for the possibility of a second.
“The Idol...
- 8/28/2023
- by Katie Campione
- Deadline Film + TV
Selena Gomez released her newest song, "Single Soon," on Aug. 25. The new track - which is accompanied by a music video full of Easter eggs - describes Gomez on the edge of a breakup, wondering how she should pull the trigger and end the relationship.
Given the speculation about Gomez's love life, fans are understandably wondering which one of Gomez's exes the song could be about. Some are speculating that the song is about ex and fellow musician The Weeknd, aka Abel Tesfaye. But Gomez actually addressed that rumor shortly after the song's release. Here's why fans thought the song was about The Weeknd, what Gomez had to say about that theory, and who else it could be about.
Is Selena Gomez's "Single Soon" About The Weeknd?
There's one specific lyric in the track that fans thought pointed to The Weeknd. Gomez sings, "I don't wanna see a tear / And the weekend's almost here.
Given the speculation about Gomez's love life, fans are understandably wondering which one of Gomez's exes the song could be about. Some are speculating that the song is about ex and fellow musician The Weeknd, aka Abel Tesfaye. But Gomez actually addressed that rumor shortly after the song's release. Here's why fans thought the song was about The Weeknd, what Gomez had to say about that theory, and who else it could be about.
Is Selena Gomez's "Single Soon" About The Weeknd?
There's one specific lyric in the track that fans thought pointed to The Weeknd. Gomez sings, "I don't wanna see a tear / And the weekend's almost here.
- 8/28/2023
- by Victoria Edel
- Popsugar.com
What would you do with an extra $70 million to spend on the home of your dreams? For The Weeknd, the answer is apparently to make waves with a splashy Los Angeles purchase that has an eye-popping square footage.
Let’s take a closer look at the musician’s palatial paradise and the luxurious amenities tucked away within it!
The Weeknd’s success has been astronomical
Abel Tesfaye — better known by stage name The Weeknd — was born in Canada to immigrant parents from Ethiopia. The future singer grew up speaking Amharic with his grandmother, who he spent a lot of time with in his formative years.
As Billboard reports, The Weeknd got his start with anonymous uploads of his music to YouTube. In 2011, his first mixtape charted on the Billboard 200, giving the star a platform for growth that he certainly used as a springboard. Kiss Land — his first studio album — dropped...
Let’s take a closer look at the musician’s palatial paradise and the luxurious amenities tucked away within it!
The Weeknd’s success has been astronomical
Abel Tesfaye — better known by stage name The Weeknd — was born in Canada to immigrant parents from Ethiopia. The future singer grew up speaking Amharic with his grandmother, who he spent a lot of time with in his formative years.
As Billboard reports, The Weeknd got his start with anonymous uploads of his music to YouTube. In 2011, his first mixtape charted on the Billboard 200, giving the star a platform for growth that he certainly used as a springboard. Kiss Land — his first studio album — dropped...
- 8/26/2023
- by Suse Forrest
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Weeknd is ending his musical collaborations with all artists, except for one he’s holding out hope for.
The Grammy-winning singer announced the career decision onstage Tuesday while performing his “After Hours Til Dawn” tour in Warsaw, Poland.
“This next song I’m about to perform is an unreleased record. I haven’t dropped it yet,” Abel Tesfaye told the crowd in a video shared to his social media accounts on Friday.
Read More: The Weeknd Breaks Michael Jackson’s Record For Highest Grossing Tour By A Black Artist
“It’s called ‘Another One of Me'”, he revealed, “but I just want to say this is gonna be the last feature I ever do, ever, in my career so I want to perform it for you guys tonight.”
In the clip from the concert, the intro beat from the upcoming track is teased as it cuts off before the Weeknd begins to sing.
The Grammy-winning singer announced the career decision onstage Tuesday while performing his “After Hours Til Dawn” tour in Warsaw, Poland.
“This next song I’m about to perform is an unreleased record. I haven’t dropped it yet,” Abel Tesfaye told the crowd in a video shared to his social media accounts on Friday.
Read More: The Weeknd Breaks Michael Jackson’s Record For Highest Grossing Tour By A Black Artist
“It’s called ‘Another One of Me'”, he revealed, “but I just want to say this is gonna be the last feature I ever do, ever, in my career so I want to perform it for you guys tonight.”
In the clip from the concert, the intro beat from the upcoming track is teased as it cuts off before the Weeknd begins to sing.
- 8/11/2023
- by Melissa Romualdi
- ET Canada
Travis Scott, Bad Bunny and The Weeknd have joined forces for a catchy new track.
The trio dropped “K-Pop” on Friday. The song is expected to feature on Scott’s eagerly anticipated fourth studio album, Utopia.
Bunny — real name Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio — and The Weeknd — whose real name is Abel Tesfaye — have been teasing their involvement with Utopia for a while now.
Read More: Travis Scott Not Indicted By Grand Jury Over Astroworld Tragedy
The pair were photographed with a briefcase with the word on it, with Bunny also telling Rolling Stone he and Scott were teaming up for something, but chose not to go into too much detail about it.
Scott and Tesfaye have worked together on multiple occasions before, including on the tracks “Pray 4 Love”, “Skeletons” and “Power Is Power” with Sza.
Read More: The Weeknd Breaks Michael Jackson’s Record For Highest Grossing Tour By A...
The trio dropped “K-Pop” on Friday. The song is expected to feature on Scott’s eagerly anticipated fourth studio album, Utopia.
Bunny — real name Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio — and The Weeknd — whose real name is Abel Tesfaye — have been teasing their involvement with Utopia for a while now.
Read More: Travis Scott Not Indicted By Grand Jury Over Astroworld Tragedy
The pair were photographed with a briefcase with the word on it, with Bunny also telling Rolling Stone he and Scott were teaming up for something, but chose not to go into too much detail about it.
Scott and Tesfaye have worked together on multiple occasions before, including on the tracks “Pray 4 Love”, “Skeletons” and “Power Is Power” with Sza.
Read More: The Weeknd Breaks Michael Jackson’s Record For Highest Grossing Tour By A...
- 7/21/2023
- by Becca Longmire
- ET Canada
The Weeknd has another record to add to his trophy shelf.
Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, 33, has achieved the prestigious title of the highest-grossing tour for a Black musician with his After Hours Till Dawn tour, a record held by the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson’s 1987 Bad tour for almost 35 years.
The Weeknd’s tour began in 2022 and has already made a killing, generating more than $350 million in revenue. Jackson’s tour managed to gross a wildly impressive $311 million after adjusting for inflation, per Hot New Hip Hop.
Read More: The Weeknd’s After Hours Til Dawn Tour Surpasses $350 Million Gross, Becoming One Of The Decade’s Most Successful
Tesfaye, who is currently performing the European leg of his tour amid the finale of his short HBO series “The Idol”, subtly acknowledged the major feat on Twitter by sharing a vid of himself covering the King...
Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, 33, has achieved the prestigious title of the highest-grossing tour for a Black musician with his After Hours Till Dawn tour, a record held by the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson’s 1987 Bad tour for almost 35 years.
The Weeknd’s tour began in 2022 and has already made a killing, generating more than $350 million in revenue. Jackson’s tour managed to gross a wildly impressive $311 million after adjusting for inflation, per Hot New Hip Hop.
Read More: The Weeknd’s After Hours Til Dawn Tour Surpasses $350 Million Gross, Becoming One Of The Decade’s Most Successful
Tesfaye, who is currently performing the European leg of his tour amid the finale of his short HBO series “The Idol”, subtly acknowledged the major feat on Twitter by sharing a vid of himself covering the King...
- 7/13/2023
- by Emerson Pearson
- ET Canada
The Idol wrapped up its controversial first season on Sunday night, and The Weeknd took to social media to celebrate the bow of the HBO drama, which he starred in, co-created and produced with Euphoria creator Sam Levinson.
“The finale. grateful to share this moment with you all as the season comes to an end,” The Weeknd, known by his real name, Abel Tesfaye, in his acting work, captioned the slideshow of behind-the-scenes pics from the series. “Continue to push the vision no matter how bumpy the journey.”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Abel Tesfaye (@theweeknd)
The Idol‘s season finale focused on embattled pop star Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) turning the tables on Tesfaye’s shady nightclub owner and talent scout, Tedros, for attempting to take over her life and career. The episode capped off a five-episode run that sparked plenty of discussion about the show...
“The finale. grateful to share this moment with you all as the season comes to an end,” The Weeknd, known by his real name, Abel Tesfaye, in his acting work, captioned the slideshow of behind-the-scenes pics from the series. “Continue to push the vision no matter how bumpy the journey.”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Abel Tesfaye (@theweeknd)
The Idol‘s season finale focused on embattled pop star Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) turning the tables on Tesfaye’s shady nightclub owner and talent scout, Tedros, for attempting to take over her life and career. The episode capped off a five-episode run that sparked plenty of discussion about the show...
- 7/3/2023
- by Emerson Pearson
- ET Canada
Fans keeping up with the dramatic journey of “The Idol” are all aware of the infamous Rolling Stone scene that co-creator and star Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye posted on social after the publication published a damning report about the HBO drama’s production. Turns out, the scene didn’t even make the final cut.
The scene, released by Tesfaye on Twitter months before the show aired in March, depicts a conversation between shady nightclub owner Tedros (Tesfaye), pop star Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) and Jocelyn’s publicist (Dan Levy), in which Levy suggests Jocelyn consider Rolling Stone’s offer to feature the artist on their cover. “Rolling Stone, aren’t they a little irrelevant?” Tesfaye said in the clip, before continuing on to say “nobody cares about Rolling Stone,” as Jocelyn turns down the opportunity.
The clip was just enough backup for Tesfaye to shoot back at the outlet after Rolling...
The scene, released by Tesfaye on Twitter months before the show aired in March, depicts a conversation between shady nightclub owner Tedros (Tesfaye), pop star Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) and Jocelyn’s publicist (Dan Levy), in which Levy suggests Jocelyn consider Rolling Stone’s offer to feature the artist on their cover. “Rolling Stone, aren’t they a little irrelevant?” Tesfaye said in the clip, before continuing on to say “nobody cares about Rolling Stone,” as Jocelyn turns down the opportunity.
The clip was just enough backup for Tesfaye to shoot back at the outlet after Rolling...
- 7/3/2023
- by Loree Seitz
- The Wrap
[Editor’s Note: The following review contains spoilers for “The Idol” Episode 5, “Jocelyn Forever,” including the ending.]
Tucked within a dull, dumbfounding finale, there’s one line that, I think, speaks to the general point “The Idol” has been trying to make. Thankfully, it’s shared by the loudest person in the room. Andrew Finkelstein hasn’t been around much. The Live Nation rep played with demented backroom-Hollywood energy by Eli Roth popped up in the premiere, as part of the executive class concerned that Jocelyn’s (Lily-Rose Depp) personal crisis might impact her professional ambitions/their bottom lines. Later, he would either be heard on the phone, threatening to cancel the tour, or seen at his office, threatening to cancel the tour, usually peppering the conversation with curse words and comments so gross they were obviously only included to provoke further controversy. Nevertheless, the verbose boss held the keys to the kingdom, and he just kept dangling them...
Tucked within a dull, dumbfounding finale, there’s one line that, I think, speaks to the general point “The Idol” has been trying to make. Thankfully, it’s shared by the loudest person in the room. Andrew Finkelstein hasn’t been around much. The Live Nation rep played with demented backroom-Hollywood energy by Eli Roth popped up in the premiere, as part of the executive class concerned that Jocelyn’s (Lily-Rose Depp) personal crisis might impact her professional ambitions/their bottom lines. Later, he would either be heard on the phone, threatening to cancel the tour, or seen at his office, threatening to cancel the tour, usually peppering the conversation with curse words and comments so gross they were obviously only included to provoke further controversy. Nevertheless, the verbose boss held the keys to the kingdom, and he just kept dangling them...
- 7/3/2023
- by Ben Travers
- Indiewire
In the end, “The Idol” was neither as offensive as its detractors claimed nor as “revolutionary” as co-creator Sam Levinson believed. Like so many works of art that too openly aim for provocation, the five-episode HBO drama got in its own way, passing off reductive clichés as radical transgression. Much of the discourse around the show has centered on sex, the most attention-grabbing of its themes. But flashy as its approach may be, how “The Idol” depicts nudity, kink and power dynamics is less indicative of the series’ core problems than its take on pop music and stardom — ostensibly its primary subjects and the center of season finale “Jocelyn Forever.” Even with such an abbreviated buildup, the episode still managed to underwhelm, offering neither shocking twists nor effective catharsis. For a show in part about fandom, “The Idol” failed to inspire one of its own.
“The Idol” is only the...
“The Idol” is only the...
- 7/3/2023
- by Alison Herman
- Variety Film + TV
Twitter users were underwhelmed following Sunday night’s finale of Sam Levinson’s controversial HBO series, “The Idol,” with some saying it was a “waste of everyone’s time” while another dismissed it as “straight trash.”
The twist, in which pop singer Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) proved to be as much of a manipulator as abusive guru Tedros (Abel Tesfaye), drew an over all, “What the hell was that?”
“The Idol was really a waste of everyone’s time but this is what happen when men take over tv shows that wasn’t their business in the first place,” tweeted Darby Shaw, referencing Sam Levinson replacing original director Amy Seimetz.
The Idol was really a waste of everyone’s time but this is what happen when men take over tv shows that wasn’t their business in the first place.
— darby shaw. (@martyrculture) July 3, 2023
Many were left confused by Jocelyn’s flip-flopping affections Tedros.
The twist, in which pop singer Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) proved to be as much of a manipulator as abusive guru Tedros (Abel Tesfaye), drew an over all, “What the hell was that?”
“The Idol was really a waste of everyone’s time but this is what happen when men take over tv shows that wasn’t their business in the first place,” tweeted Darby Shaw, referencing Sam Levinson replacing original director Amy Seimetz.
The Idol was really a waste of everyone’s time but this is what happen when men take over tv shows that wasn’t their business in the first place.
— darby shaw. (@martyrculture) July 3, 2023
Many were left confused by Jocelyn’s flip-flopping affections Tedros.
- 7/3/2023
- by Sharon Knolle
- The Wrap
“Everything Everywhere All At Once” Oscar winners Ke Huy Quan, Daniel Kwan, and Daniel Scheinert, recent acting nominees Austin Butler, Paul Mescal, and Stephanie Hsu, and bold-face names for the extremely online like Taylor Swift, Abel Tesfaye (a.k.a. The Weeknd), and Warner Bros. Discovery boss David Zaslav were among the 398 people announced as new members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Wednesday.
“The academy is proud to welcome these artists and professionals into our membership. They represent extraordinary global talent across cinematic disciplines and have made a vital impact on the arts and sciences of motion pictures and on movie fans worldwide,” said academy CEO Bill Kramer and academy president Janet Yang in a joint statement.
This year’s class of new members is heavy on 2022 breakouts, like the aforementioned Kwan and Scheinert – invitees in both the directors’ brand and the producers’ branch. In keeping with academy practice,...
“The academy is proud to welcome these artists and professionals into our membership. They represent extraordinary global talent across cinematic disciplines and have made a vital impact on the arts and sciences of motion pictures and on movie fans worldwide,” said academy CEO Bill Kramer and academy president Janet Yang in a joint statement.
This year’s class of new members is heavy on 2022 breakouts, like the aforementioned Kwan and Scheinert – invitees in both the directors’ brand and the producers’ branch. In keeping with academy practice,...
- 6/28/2023
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
The Idol star Lily-Rose Depp defended the controversial HBO Max series in a new interview in which she discussed the pop-star drama’s content that some viewers have dubbed overly graphic and even “torture porn.”
Speaking to co-star Troye Sivan for Vogue Australia, the 24-year-old actress talked about the series, which chronicles the toxic relationship between a spiraling singer (Depp) and her new mentor/lover Tedros (Abel Tesfaye aka The Weeknd).
“We know that we’re making something provocative and we are not shying away from that,” she said. “That’s something I knew I was setting out to do from the beginning. I was never interested in making something puritanical. It’s Ok if this show isn’t for everyone and that’s fine — I think all the best art is [polarizing]. I’ve never felt more respected and more safe on a set, honestly. And I think the trust...
Speaking to co-star Troye Sivan for Vogue Australia, the 24-year-old actress talked about the series, which chronicles the toxic relationship between a spiraling singer (Depp) and her new mentor/lover Tedros (Abel Tesfaye aka The Weeknd).
“We know that we’re making something provocative and we are not shying away from that,” she said. “That’s something I knew I was setting out to do from the beginning. I was never interested in making something puritanical. It’s Ok if this show isn’t for everyone and that’s fine — I think all the best art is [polarizing]. I’ve never felt more respected and more safe on a set, honestly. And I think the trust...
- 6/28/2023
- by James Hibberd
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
After weeks of bad-mouthed reviews and criticism, HBO’s “The Idol” season 1 has been shortened from six episodes to five.
The raunchy drama, which kicked off on a bad note followed by highly-criticized subsequent episodes, just aired its fourth episode on Sunday (June 25), making the next episode — airing July 2 — its season finale.
It’s unclear when the decision was made to cut down the initial six-episode season, however both The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp — who star in the series — have already begun promoting the finale, sharing posts on their respective Instagram accounts:
Read More: The Weeknd Responds To Backlash Surrounding That Graphic ‘The Idol’ Sex Scene
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Abel Tesfaye (@theweeknd)
Photo: Instagram/ @LilyRose_Depp
Read More: HBO Denies ‘The Idol’ Season 2 Cancellation Reports Amid Backlash: ‘It Hasn’t Been Determined’
Meanwhile, a source spoke out about the decision, telling TVLine that it...
The raunchy drama, which kicked off on a bad note followed by highly-criticized subsequent episodes, just aired its fourth episode on Sunday (June 25), making the next episode — airing July 2 — its season finale.
It’s unclear when the decision was made to cut down the initial six-episode season, however both The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp — who star in the series — have already begun promoting the finale, sharing posts on their respective Instagram accounts:
Read More: The Weeknd Responds To Backlash Surrounding That Graphic ‘The Idol’ Sex Scene
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Abel Tesfaye (@theweeknd)
Photo: Instagram/ @LilyRose_Depp
Read More: HBO Denies ‘The Idol’ Season 2 Cancellation Reports Amid Backlash: ‘It Hasn’t Been Determined’
Meanwhile, a source spoke out about the decision, telling TVLine that it...
- 6/27/2023
- by Melissa Romualdi
- ET Canada
[Editor’s Note: The following review contains spoilers for “The Idol” Episode 4, “Stars Belong to the World.”]
“The Idol” Episode 4 paints a convincing picture of the chaos wrought by Tedros Tedros (Abel Tesfaye). Opening on armed guards patrolling the mansion and maids pulling dildos out of shower drains, “Stars Belong to the World” only amps up the atmospherics from there. Psychological torture, physical torture, and whatever kind of torture you want to call listening to Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) and Tedros Tedros making music — it’s all here.
Teeing up what’s intended to be a tense episode of television is the one and only Destiny (Da’Vine Joy Randoloph), who — before being sent undercover to investigate the goings-on at Camp Tedros Tedros — tells Chaim (Hank Azaria) the skinny on their target. Turns out, his real name is Mauricio Costello Jackson (“not Italian”). He was arrested in 2012 for kidnapping and torturing his ex-girlfriend, only to be slapped with “a slew...
“The Idol” Episode 4 paints a convincing picture of the chaos wrought by Tedros Tedros (Abel Tesfaye). Opening on armed guards patrolling the mansion and maids pulling dildos out of shower drains, “Stars Belong to the World” only amps up the atmospherics from there. Psychological torture, physical torture, and whatever kind of torture you want to call listening to Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) and Tedros Tedros making music — it’s all here.
Teeing up what’s intended to be a tense episode of television is the one and only Destiny (Da’Vine Joy Randoloph), who — before being sent undercover to investigate the goings-on at Camp Tedros Tedros — tells Chaim (Hank Azaria) the skinny on their target. Turns out, his real name is Mauricio Costello Jackson (“not Italian”). He was arrested in 2012 for kidnapping and torturing his ex-girlfriend, only to be slapped with “a slew...
- 6/26/2023
- by Ben Travers
- Indiewire
The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, is defending his performance on the new HBO series The Idol after it receives backlash due to its extreme content, saying people will understand it with time.
The show premiered on June 4 and the release of the second episode, “Double Fantasy,” has received an extensive amount of negative reviews because of its sexually explicit scenes.
The series focuses on Lily-Rose Depp’s character, Jocelyn, a pop star who has a nervous breakdown, which leads her to cancel her tour. She decides to go on a journey of self-healing when she meets Tedros, played by the Weeknd, and starts a relationship with him. The show focuses on their relationship and has multiple explicit scenes.
Critics have called the series “torture porn,” and it has received an overwhelming number of negative reviews. Variety even went as far as to say that Tesfaye’s acting is “nonexistent.
The show premiered on June 4 and the release of the second episode, “Double Fantasy,” has received an extensive amount of negative reviews because of its sexually explicit scenes.
The series focuses on Lily-Rose Depp’s character, Jocelyn, a pop star who has a nervous breakdown, which leads her to cancel her tour. She decides to go on a journey of self-healing when she meets Tedros, played by the Weeknd, and starts a relationship with him. The show focuses on their relationship and has multiple explicit scenes.
Critics have called the series “torture porn,” and it has received an overwhelming number of negative reviews. Variety even went as far as to say that Tesfaye’s acting is “nonexistent.
- 6/25/2023
- by Nina Hauswirth
- Uinterview
The Weeknd definitely pushes himself to the limit when working.
The Canadian hitmaker had to cancel his Toronto show last July due to the national Rogers outage, before he lost his voice and had to end his Los Angeles concert mid-show in September.
He spoke about having to extend his tour dates to play the extended shows in a candid interview with Variety, admitting: “It felt like a cursed tour! There were so many obstacles that I had to deal with and the only solution was just keep going.”
Read More: The Weeknd Thrills Fans As He Returns To Toronto After Postponing Concert Due To Mass Rogers Outage
The Weeknd — real name Abel Tesfaye — explained how he’d been shooting “The Idol” as well as performing and had been burning the candle at both ends.
He shared, “The truth is, it takes a toll on you, on your body. I...
The Canadian hitmaker had to cancel his Toronto show last July due to the national Rogers outage, before he lost his voice and had to end his Los Angeles concert mid-show in September.
He spoke about having to extend his tour dates to play the extended shows in a candid interview with Variety, admitting: “It felt like a cursed tour! There were so many obstacles that I had to deal with and the only solution was just keep going.”
Read More: The Weeknd Thrills Fans As He Returns To Toronto After Postponing Concert Due To Mass Rogers Outage
The Weeknd — real name Abel Tesfaye — explained how he’d been shooting “The Idol” as well as performing and had been burning the candle at both ends.
He shared, “The truth is, it takes a toll on you, on your body. I...
- 6/21/2023
- by Becca Longmire
- ET Canada
Sam Levinson reveals how he managed to convince The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, to play as creep on “The Idol”.
The Max show has got the internet talking with Tesfaye’s disturbing portrayal of a cult leader cum self-help guru in the show. Levinson, who was also the creative mind behind “Euphoria”, says he managed to convince the musician to take the role by selling it in a specific way.
Read More: TV Intimacy Coordinator Analyzes ‘The Idol”s Premiere Episode, Says It Depicts ‘Accurate Pushback’ On Set But ‘Felt Betrayed They Made Fun Of Us’
“We’re in Abel’s house, we’re talking it through, imagining the character Tedros,” Levinson said in the series’ “Crafting the Family” featurette on Max, via Variety. “And I would say, ‘Imagine you have all of the dreams that you have of what you want to do in life, in terms of music,...
The Max show has got the internet talking with Tesfaye’s disturbing portrayal of a cult leader cum self-help guru in the show. Levinson, who was also the creative mind behind “Euphoria”, says he managed to convince the musician to take the role by selling it in a specific way.
Read More: TV Intimacy Coordinator Analyzes ‘The Idol”s Premiere Episode, Says It Depicts ‘Accurate Pushback’ On Set But ‘Felt Betrayed They Made Fun Of Us’
“We’re in Abel’s house, we’re talking it through, imagining the character Tedros,” Levinson said in the series’ “Crafting the Family” featurette on Max, via Variety. “And I would say, ‘Imagine you have all of the dreams that you have of what you want to do in life, in terms of music,...
- 6/19/2023
- by Anita Tai
- ET Canada
[Editor’s Note: The following review contains spoilers for “The Idol” Episode 3, “Daybreak.”]
In a scene so subdued and intimate it feels like an interlude from the “The Idol’s” standard edgelord provocations, Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) sits smoking by the window with Chloe (Suzanna Son). The less famous singer and more devout Tedros Tedros follower asks her mirror image why she doesn’t sing about her late mother. “I feel like it’s not something anybody wants to hear about,” Jocelyn says. “Like that’s not what they want from me. […] I feel like the more you let people in, the more reason they have not to want you anymore.”
Jocelyn goes on to say that’s why she’s never sung about anything “truthful, or anything that really means anything to me.” Given what we later learn about Jocelyn’s relationship with her mom — the person who’s supposed to care, who’s supposed to want to know the real you,...
In a scene so subdued and intimate it feels like an interlude from the “The Idol’s” standard edgelord provocations, Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) sits smoking by the window with Chloe (Suzanna Son). The less famous singer and more devout Tedros Tedros follower asks her mirror image why she doesn’t sing about her late mother. “I feel like it’s not something anybody wants to hear about,” Jocelyn says. “Like that’s not what they want from me. […] I feel like the more you let people in, the more reason they have not to want you anymore.”
Jocelyn goes on to say that’s why she’s never sung about anything “truthful, or anything that really means anything to me.” Given what we later learn about Jocelyn’s relationship with her mom — the person who’s supposed to care, who’s supposed to want to know the real you,...
- 6/19/2023
- by Ben Travers
- Indiewire
“The Idol” continues to ruffle viewers’ feathers.
With the show’s first two episodes, viewers had already begun to express their disdain for the “atrocious” dialogue and morally questionable actions displayed by the cult leader, Tedros (portrayed by The Weeknd a.k.a Abel Tesfaye), and his mesmerized pop protégé, Jocelyn ( Lily-Rose Depp).
However, in the latest episode released on Sunday, a line of dialogue has further ignited a firestorm of criticism and controversy.
Read More: TV Intimacy Coordinator Analyzes ‘The Idol”s Premiere Episode, Says It Depicts ‘Accurate Pushback’ On Set But ‘Felt Betrayed They Made Fun Of Us’
The dialogue in question is uttered by Live Nation representative Andrew Finkelstein, portrayed by Eli Roth, during the episode. When Joceyn’s manager Chaim (Hank Azaria) asks about cancelling the tour, Andrew’s response includes the line: “I’m f***ing s***ing more blood than a kid at Epstein’s island.
With the show’s first two episodes, viewers had already begun to express their disdain for the “atrocious” dialogue and morally questionable actions displayed by the cult leader, Tedros (portrayed by The Weeknd a.k.a Abel Tesfaye), and his mesmerized pop protégé, Jocelyn ( Lily-Rose Depp).
However, in the latest episode released on Sunday, a line of dialogue has further ignited a firestorm of criticism and controversy.
Read More: TV Intimacy Coordinator Analyzes ‘The Idol”s Premiere Episode, Says It Depicts ‘Accurate Pushback’ On Set But ‘Felt Betrayed They Made Fun Of Us’
The dialogue in question is uttered by Live Nation representative Andrew Finkelstein, portrayed by Eli Roth, during the episode. When Joceyn’s manager Chaim (Hank Azaria) asks about cancelling the tour, Andrew’s response includes the line: “I’m f***ing s***ing more blood than a kid at Epstein’s island.
- 6/19/2023
- by Emerson Pearson
- ET Canada
Track List:
The Weeknd – A Lesser Man
Written by Abel Tesfaye, Mike Dean & Sam Levinson. Produced by The Weeknd & Mike Dean
The Weeknd – Take Me Back
Written By: Abel Tesfaye, Mike Dean & Jason “DaHeala” Quenneville. Produced by The Weeknd & Mike Dean
Moses Sumney – Get It B4
Written By: Moses Sumney, Roman GianArthur & Jarett Goodly. Produced By: Moses Sumney, Roman GianArthur & Sensei Bueno
The HBO® Original series The Idol debuts new episodes Sundays at 9:00 p.m. Et/Pt on HBO, and will be available to stream on Max.
Starring Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye and Lily-Rose Depp, the series is co-created by Sam Levinson (HBO’s “Euphoria”), Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, and Reza Fahim. It is executive produced by Levinson, Tesfaye, Fahim, Kevin Turen, Ashley Levinson, Joe Epstein, Aaron L. Gilbert for Bron, and Sara E. White, and produced in partnership with A24. For updates on the show, follow @theidol on Instagram.
The Weeknd – A Lesser Man
Written by Abel Tesfaye, Mike Dean & Sam Levinson. Produced by The Weeknd & Mike Dean
The Weeknd – Take Me Back
Written By: Abel Tesfaye, Mike Dean & Jason “DaHeala” Quenneville. Produced by The Weeknd & Mike Dean
Moses Sumney – Get It B4
Written By: Moses Sumney, Roman GianArthur & Jarett Goodly. Produced By: Moses Sumney, Roman GianArthur & Sensei Bueno
The HBO® Original series The Idol debuts new episodes Sundays at 9:00 p.m. Et/Pt on HBO, and will be available to stream on Max.
Starring Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye and Lily-Rose Depp, the series is co-created by Sam Levinson (HBO’s “Euphoria”), Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, and Reza Fahim. It is executive produced by Levinson, Tesfaye, Fahim, Kevin Turen, Ashley Levinson, Joe Epstein, Aaron L. Gilbert for Bron, and Sara E. White, and produced in partnership with A24. For updates on the show, follow @theidol on Instagram.
- 6/19/2023
- by Music Martin Cid Magazine
- Martin Cid Music
Three months from now, the Weeknd might just have an Emmy to place alongside his four Grammys and his Oscar nomination.
That’s because he joins a dozen other music superstars — including Dolly Parton, Common, Ryan Tedder, “Weird Al” Yankovic and Meshell Ndegeocello — who have entered work in this year’s Emmy competition.
Voting began yesterday in the seven music categories. Approximately 550 members of the Academy’s music branch will cast ballots, although viewing the hundreds of entries before voting ends on June 26 is an impossible task, Academy officials privately concede.
The Weeknd, aka Abel Tesfaye, is among the 19 entries in the Music Direction category. He submitted “The Weeknd Live at Sofi Stadium,” an HBO special that aired in February. If nominated, he’s likely to be up against such past winners as Adam Blackstone and Rickey Minor (“The Oscars”).
Most of the big-name performers have entered the song category...
That’s because he joins a dozen other music superstars — including Dolly Parton, Common, Ryan Tedder, “Weird Al” Yankovic and Meshell Ndegeocello — who have entered work in this year’s Emmy competition.
Voting began yesterday in the seven music categories. Approximately 550 members of the Academy’s music branch will cast ballots, although viewing the hundreds of entries before voting ends on June 26 is an impossible task, Academy officials privately concede.
The Weeknd, aka Abel Tesfaye, is among the 19 entries in the Music Direction category. He submitted “The Weeknd Live at Sofi Stadium,” an HBO special that aired in February. If nominated, he’s likely to be up against such past winners as Adam Blackstone and Rickey Minor (“The Oscars”).
Most of the big-name performers have entered the song category...
- 6/17/2023
- by Jon Burlingame
- Variety Film + TV
Sam Levinson‘s latest series “The Idol” hit HBO two weekends ago after its world premiere at Cannes in May, and the critical response is …not good. In fact, most critics think it’s a trainwreck of a show, which isn’t surprising given the stories that leaked during its production. But “The Idol” star Abel Tesfaye, or The Weeknd, stands by the series and its sleazy, uncomfortable take on the music industry.
Continue reading ‘The Idol’: Abel Tesfaye Says “There’s Nothing Sexy” About His Character’s Sex Scenes: “You Feel Embarrassed For The Characters” at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘The Idol’: Abel Tesfaye Says “There’s Nothing Sexy” About His Character’s Sex Scenes: “You Feel Embarrassed For The Characters” at The Playlist.
- 6/16/2023
- by Ned Booth
- The Playlist
The internet loves to hate “The Idol,” but that doesn’t mean the show’s future has been set in stone. HBO has denied a report from Page Six claiming that Sam Levinson and The Weeknd’s controversial drama series will not return for a second season.
“It is being misreported that a decision on a second season of ‘The Idol’ has been determined,” HBO’s official PR Twitter account tweeted on Thursday, hours after Page Six’s report. “It has not, and we look forward to sharing the next episode with you Sunday night.”
Page Six’s story quoted two anonymous sources close to the production. One source claimed that The Weeknd, or Abel Tesfaye, was not planning a second season of the series, and that the show was always “intended to be a limited series.” HBO has not explicitly marketed “The Idol” as a limited series, so it...
“It is being misreported that a decision on a second season of ‘The Idol’ has been determined,” HBO’s official PR Twitter account tweeted on Thursday, hours after Page Six’s report. “It has not, and we look forward to sharing the next episode with you Sunday night.”
Page Six’s story quoted two anonymous sources close to the production. One source claimed that The Weeknd, or Abel Tesfaye, was not planning a second season of the series, and that the show was always “intended to be a limited series.” HBO has not explicitly marketed “The Idol” as a limited series, so it...
- 6/16/2023
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
‘The Idol’ is off to a bumpy start.
After severe backlash for the first two episodes, Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd (real name Abel Tesfaye)-starrer ‘The Idol’ was reportedly canceled for the second season. On Thursday, Page Six reported that the show’s future appeared to be bleak.
However, HBO put a lid on the rumors saying the show’s fate hasn’t been decided yet. HBO’s PR team tweeted on Thursday, “It is being misreported that a decision on a second season of The Idol has been determined. It has not, and we look forward to sharing the next episode with you Sunday night.”
It is being misreported that a decision on a second season of The Idol has been determined. It has not, and we look forward to sharing the next episode with you Sunday night.
— HBO PR (@Hbopr) June 15, 2023
In its report, Page Six stated...
After severe backlash for the first two episodes, Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd (real name Abel Tesfaye)-starrer ‘The Idol’ was reportedly canceled for the second season. On Thursday, Page Six reported that the show’s future appeared to be bleak.
However, HBO put a lid on the rumors saying the show’s fate hasn’t been decided yet. HBO’s PR team tweeted on Thursday, “It is being misreported that a decision on a second season of The Idol has been determined. It has not, and we look forward to sharing the next episode with you Sunday night.”
It is being misreported that a decision on a second season of The Idol has been determined. It has not, and we look forward to sharing the next episode with you Sunday night.
— HBO PR (@Hbopr) June 15, 2023
In its report, Page Six stated...
- 6/15/2023
- by Divya Goyal
- ET Canada
Although news has been circulating that HBO‘s The Idol has been canceled only two episodes into its first season, the network has confirmed that is not the case. The controversial series starring The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) and Lily-Rose Depp was initially reported to not be returning for a second season by Page Six. However, HBO took to Twitter to dispel the rumors: “It is being misreported that a decision on a second season of The Idol has been determined. It has not, and we look forward to sharing the next episode with you Sunday night.” In the original report, the series was slated to end after its first season, according to an inside source. “This was never meant to be a long-running show, it was always … a limited series,” said the source. But another source, from HBO, told the outlet, “the door is definitely still open — it’s definitely...
- 6/15/2023
- TV Insider
False reports that “The Idol” is not returning for Season 2 were debunked Thursday, with HBO PR tweeting, “It is being misreported that a decision on a second season of The Idol has been determined. It has not, and we look forward to sharing the next episode with you Sunday night.”
The response came after a story from Page Six stated that the currently airing season of the controversial musical drama starring The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp would be its first and only. The original headline for the Page Six story cited The Weeknd’s reportedly “difficult” behavior on set with influencing the decision.
Also Read:
HBO’s ‘The Idol’ Breaks Into the Most In-Demand New Shows List | Chart
As it now reads, the article, “Fate of ‘The Idol’ Up in the Air Amid Criticism of The Weeknd’s ‘Egomaniacal’ Behavior,” alleges that Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd) “is said to not...
The response came after a story from Page Six stated that the currently airing season of the controversial musical drama starring The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp would be its first and only. The original headline for the Page Six story cited The Weeknd’s reportedly “difficult” behavior on set with influencing the decision.
Also Read:
HBO’s ‘The Idol’ Breaks Into the Most In-Demand New Shows List | Chart
As it now reads, the article, “Fate of ‘The Idol’ Up in the Air Amid Criticism of The Weeknd’s ‘Egomaniacal’ Behavior,” alleges that Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd) “is said to not...
- 6/15/2023
- by Kayla Cobb
- The Wrap
HBO's new series "The Idol" follows Lily-Rose Depp as Jocelyn, a pop star getting ready to stage her comeback. If that sounds too basic, don't worry. The series follows Jocelyn as she gets wrapped up in a cult run by Tedros Tedros, played by The Weeknd, aka Abel Tesfaye. Jocelyn's story has some real-life analogs, though the fictional pop star isn't based on any one specific singer. And as viewers get to hear Jocelyn's music for the first time, they might wonder if that's really Depp singing in the show. In fact, fans of the series may be curious about other cast members' onscreen vocals, as well.
Is Lily-Rose Depp Singing in "The Idol"?
Yes, Depp is providing Jocelyn's singing voice - and she was really nervous about it.
For her audition, Depp had to sing a cappella. She sang a minute of the song "Fever." "I thought, Here's where I don't get called back,...
Is Lily-Rose Depp Singing in "The Idol"?
Yes, Depp is providing Jocelyn's singing voice - and she was really nervous about it.
For her audition, Depp had to sing a cappella. She sang a minute of the song "Fever." "I thought, Here's where I don't get called back,...
- 6/14/2023
- by Victoria Edel
- Popsugar.com
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