On August 28, Page Six reported that HBO has announced that The Idol – the most controversial series of the summer – will not have a second season.
“After much thought and consideration, HBO, along with the creators and producers, has decided not to continue with a second season. We appreciate the hard work of the creators, cast, and crew for their exceptional work,” the spokesperson stated.
The spokesperson further noted that The Idol is one of the most provocative shows on HBO, renowned for its audacity and daring content that resonated deeply with audiences.
The Idol is the “brainchild” of Abel Tesfaye (known as The Weeknd) and Sam Levinson, director of the acclaimed series Euphoria. From its initial announcement, The Idol garnered significant public attention due to the involvement of Lily-Rose Depp, The Weeknd, and notably Jennie from BlackPink. K-pop fans eagerly awaited her debut in the series as the lead character’s confidante, a role filled with intense emotional depth.
However, since its debut in early June and concluding on July 2, the show has received more criticism than praise. Viewers reacted sharply to the explicit content and themes of sexuality. Jennie’s appearance also left Korean media and fans disappointed due to her limited screen time.
The situation escalated when Rolling Stone labeled The Idol as a program that “crosses the line” and “exploits sexual themes.” Meanwhile, GQ UK described the series as containing “the most explicit sex scenes in history.”
Even The Weeknd, a prominent figure in the industry, reportedly found the show challenging to watch. According to a source, the Canadian singer felt that The Idol was not a pleasant viewing experience, to the point of not wanting to revisit it.
In June, sources from Page Six indicated that there were no plans for a second season, especially since The Idol was confirmed to be a limited series. However, according to another source from HBO Max revealed on August 28, the door remains open for potential future projects.
Despite the controversies, The Idol has been rated highly within the limited content that audiences seek in HBO’s provocative programming.
“The Idol certainly pushed boundaries. It is one of the most talked-about series of the summer and undoubtedly fits into the realm of what we consider provocative,” remarked an insider.
Perhaps, the most relieved fans are those of Jennie, as The Idol will not be prolonged. Prior to this announcement, as the show faced cuts after one season, the 1996-born star was reportedly anxious about her role due to the intense scrutiny surrounding it.
Nevertheless, Jennie had a different perspective. In a November 2022 interview with Elle, the Solo singer described The Idol as an opportunity to embrace her artistic side and expressed excitement about participating.
