Cannes 2023: ‘The Idol’ scandalises cinemagoers with kink and toxic fame

Cannes cinemagoers may only have seen two episodes of the new HBO series The Idol but they got what some critics said was a “shocking” amount of raunchy sex scenes

Cannes cinemagoers may only have seen two episodes of the new HBO series The Idol, which premiered at the festival on Monday, but they got what some critics said was a “shocking” amount of raunchy sex scenes.

The series stars Lily-Rose Depp as a pop star struggling to get back on track after a public breakdown, surrounded by heartless handlers, when she meets the manipulative leader of a modern-day cult, played by musician Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye.

There is a significant nod to Britney Spears and the toxic fame that engulfed 90s female pop stars.

Feeling a loss of control over her art, Tesfaye’s character starts to lure her in, despite her best friend and assistant warning her he is “so rapey.” “I kinda like that about him,” says Depp’s character.

The series received a modest five-minute ovation, and early reviewers focused on the kink, which included some graphic dirty talk. An Indiewire columnist wrote on Twitter it was like putting “ Black Swan, Succession, and Secretary in a blender ... Prepare yourself for quite the discourse.” The series had already been plagued by rumours of onset turmoil and graphic sex scenes.

Variety reported that the show needed major re-writes and re-shoots and switched director midway through, bringing in Euphoria creator Sam Levinson. However, it does bring yet another complex female character to Cannes, which has served up plenty of films exploring the dark side of women, and making their stories the focus.

The world’s leading industry extravaganza has entered its second week, and the competition for the main prize, the Palme D’Or is heating up.