The Idol Made People Unironically Hate The Weeknd (Which Is a Proof Just How Good He Was)
Was The Weeknd playing himself in The Idol?
After a rough five-week run, HBO's The Idol has aired its final episode — well, the Season 1 finale at least. And now that we're waiting for the network to either renew or cancel the show, fans all over social media keep sharing their opinions on the controversial project.
Interestingly, it turns out that The Idol had an unexpected effect for many — it ruined The Weeknd for them.
'I love The Weeknd's music and he was by far my top artist last year but this show feels like it's confirming things I've always thought about his actual personality,' a fan wrote on Reddit, 'I've always had this vibe of him that he is uncomfortably over-the-top horny and a bit cringe, and his character is exactly that.'
Abel Tesfaye, aka The Weeknd, was the co-creator and lead actor on The Idol, playing the sleazy cult leader Tedros, and many viewers feel that the show's creepy misogynistic vibe actually comes from the approach he and Sam Levinson have taken with their project. Ever since it was reported that former showrunner Amy Seimetz left The Idol because Tesfaye felt she was giving it too much of a 'female perspective,' the public has been on edge.
'I've had some conflicts as a fan with my values and the misogyny in [The Weeknd's] art. So to hear that he has maybe acted degrading towards women or their perspective in this production is not actually helping these feelings,' a disappointed fan commented on the overhaul.
The Weeknd's tendency to avoid interviews and talk about his personal life seems to have played a cruel joke on him. Viewers began to associate him with his character, transferring Tedros' worst traits to the real-life star. However, those who analyzed their feelings realized that it could mean that The Weeknd actually did a great job on the show.
'I hated [The Weeknd] by the end of it and had to keep reminding myself he was acting, which to me means the acting was great,' another fan noted.
Looks like despite all the criticism, The Weeknd managed to prove how good an actor he is. Or he was really not acting. There is no telling with this mysterious person.