The Weeknd Acknowledges 'The Idol' Critical Failures Amid Creative Challenges

The Weeknd, born Abel Tesfaye, has openly acknowledged the largely negative reception of HBO's series The Idol, which he starred in, co-produced, and co-wrote. He explained that the project faced significant challenges, including a shift from a planned miniseries to a five-episode format due to the pandemic and a lack of a clear beginning, middle, and end, which he believes contributed to its shortcomings. Tesfaye reflected that while everyone involved cared about the show, the ambition to simply finish it resulted in a product that felt "half-baked." Behind-the-scenes issues included expensive reshoots, a creative shakeup, and a controversial shift in narrative tone, which some insiders described as moving toward "sexual torture porn." Despite his deep involvement, Tesfaye deliberately limited his creative control to avoid being labeled "difficult" in Hollywood, emphasizing the importance of trusting professionals and paying dues in the industry. He views the experience as a learning opportunity, accepting the criticism with humility and recognizing that forcing a project can be counterproductive.