Is Jocelyn's Character in The Idol Based on Any Real Pop-Star?

Sam Levinson and The Weeknd's collaboration quickly became one of the hottest shows of the summer, all thanks to the unprecedented amount of controversy surrounding the project. Given that The Idol's main goal is to show how innocent pop stars are corrupted by the show business industry, it sounds like Levinson and The Weeknd have done the same to Lily-Rose Depp, the main star of their series.

But is her character Joceyln actually based on a real pop star?

Jocelyn is first introduced to the viewer during a time of turmoil, as her career is being rebranded while she struggles with some major mental health issues. Since Lily-Rose Depp's character is relatively young during The Idol's storyline, it's natural to conclude that she became famous during her teenage years and is now ready to take the next step in her fame, becoming an even more controversial star than she was before.

It's pretty obvious that Levinson could have based the character on some of the Disney Channel stars, with names like Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, and Miley Cyrus immediately coming to mind. Considering that Depp looks a bit like Cyrus, who is also known for her wild and controversial antics in real life, it seems that Disney Channel's Hannah Montana could be one of the real-life models for Joselyn.

The Idol follows Jocelyn's tragic story as she is taken advantage of by other people and sees her career and personal life ruined as a result. This led some fans to suspect that Levinson was referring to Britney Spears' conservatorship, which prompted millions of people to rally in Spears' favor in recent years.

In any case, it looks like Sam Levinson himself is not ready to reveal any real names when discussing his show, noting that he used a plethora of pop stars to create Jocelyn.

'We're not trying to tell a story about any particular pop star. We're looking more at how the world perceives pop stars and the pressure it puts on that individual. It's a lot of pressure — to have to constantly be on, and to be what everyone wishes you to be. It's a lonely life,' Levinson said during the Cannes Festival press conference.