The Parents Television and Media Council (PTC) has called for HBO to cancel the music industry drama series “The Idol,” citing its depiction of “torture porn” and “sexual abuse” as sinking into “such depravity.” The organization, known for advocating responsible entertainment for children, has urged an end to the Sam Levinson-created show, which has faced criticism for its explicit and gratuitous sex scenes that some critics argue depict male rape fantasies.
Furthermore, the PTC has demanded that HBO’s streaming platform Max cease marketing the show to youth through social media. They have also called for tighter parental controls to prevent younger audiences from accessing “The Idol” and other explicit TV-MA content like “Euphoria.”
Melissa Henson, the vice president of the Parents Television and Media Council, expressed her concerns in a statement, stating that “‘The Idol’ has been rightfully panned by TV critics because each episode delves deeper into ‘torture porn’ and sexual abuse.” Henson believes the show has descended into such depravity that even its niche audience has turned against it, pointing to HBO’s decision to air only five of the expected seven episodes. She urged HBO to distance itself from the program, which she claims glamorizes and promotes extreme sexual abuse to teenagers, by refusing to renew it for a second season.
Contrary to the PTC’s assertion about the show’s audience, the premiere of “The Idol” attracted 3.6 million viewers, surpassing the premiere viewership for the first seasons of “Euphoria” and “The White Lotus” at the same point in time. “Euphoria” brought in 3.3 million viewers in 2019, while “The White Lotus” garnered 3 million viewers in 2021.
So commercial success may be coming to HBO due to the curiosity of the audience. But critics and organizations are panning it with all their might.
It is important to note that “The Idol” initially received a six-episode order but was later reduced to five episodes. The show underwent significant changes after director Amy Seimetz departed the project in April 2022, leading to reshoots helmed by Sam Levinson and Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, who co-created the series alongside Reza Fahim.
The Idol is streaming on JioCinema in India.
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