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'Gross, won't watch': 'Euphoria' fans slam Sam Levinson for allegedly turning 'The Idol' into 'rape fantasy'

HBO said that they are happy with how the production of 'The Idol' has gone so far under Sam Levinson's leadership after Amy Seimetz left the show in 2022

HUDSON YARDS, NEW YORK CITY: Sam Levinson, the creator of 'Euphoria', has been accused of turning his next HBO drama titled 'The Idol' into a "rape fantasy" by enhancing the sexually explicit content and nudity. As per 13, the cast and staff members of The Weeknd's show expressed their displeasure with the show's new creative direction in a damning article published by Rolling Stone on March 1, 2023. "It was like any rape fantasy that any toxic man would have in the show — and then the woman comes back for more because it makes her music better," a member of the production told the magazine of Levinson's version. A second person continued, "It was like, ‘What is this? What am I reading here?’ It was like sexual torture porn."

However, HBO informed Page Six that they are happy with how the production has gone so far under Levinson's leadership. The network claimed in a statement, "The creators and producers of ‘The Idol’ have been working hard to create one of HBO’s most exciting and provocative original programs." They continued, "Throughout the process, the creative team has been committed to creating a safe, collaborative, and mutually respectful working environment, and last year, the team made creative changes they felt were in the best interest of both the production and the cast and crew. We look forward to sharing ‘The Idol’ with audiences soon."

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Why is Sam Levinson being slammed?

After Seimetz left the show in April 2022, with allegedly 80 percent of the show almost completed, Levinson, 38, took up the directing task. Once Seimetz dropped out, HBO turned the show over to Levinson, who, according to various sources, instead turned up the unpleasant sexual content and nudity to the level of his most popular show 'Euphoria', weakening the overall message of the show.

The Weeknd plays a self-help guru and the head of a contemporary cult in 'The Idol' which is centered around his "complicated relationship with a rising pop idol," played by Lily-Rose Depp. However, sources told Rolling Stone that Levinson's versions of the scripts allegedly had "disturbing sexual and physically violent scenes" involving co-creator The Weeknd and star Depp.

The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, is said to have gotten an erection after allegedly smashing the face of Depp's character in a particular scene. She then smiles and asks to be beaten further. However, it was confirmed to Rolling Stone that the scene was never apparently shot.

What 'The Idol' actors are saying?

Depp, 23, told Page Six through her rep, "Never have I felt more supported or respected in a creative space, my input, and opinions more valued. Working with Sam is a true collaboration in every way – it matters to him, more than anything, not only what his actors think about the work, but how we feel performing it." "He hires people whose work he esteems and has always created an environment in which I felt seen, heard, and appreciated," Depp added.

Page Six received a copy of The Weeknd's Instagram post from Wednesday, in which he ridiculed Rolling Stone and referred to them as "irrelevant" and "past its prime" in a scene from 'The Idol'. The Weeknd mentioned Rolling Stone in an Instagram post where he included a clip from the show captioning, "@rollingstone did we upset you?"

The Weeknd's representative have declined to comment on the accusations made against Levinson or that the celebrity was responsible for the show's darker tone. According to sources for Rolling Stones, the 'Save Your Tears' singer supposedly desired a story without a "feminist lens" and "wanted one show that was all about him." Given the busy schedule of the pop singer, two cast members disagreed that The Weeknd could be the show's main emphasis.

'A misogynistic vanity project for The Weeknd'

The darker tone of the show 'The Idol', however, did not go well with the 'Euphoria' fans. Internet users slammed Levinson for such "a misogynistic vanity project." One user posted a long comment that read, "A misogynistic vanity project for The Weeknd created an impossible situation and hung an experienced director Seimetz out to dry, complained about “too much female focus” for Levinson to scrap everything & then reshoot. All while HBOMax is just pulling stuff from their platform."

Another user commented, "Gross. wont watch." One user wrote, "Like at this point Sam should just be a p0rn director because that seems to be his true passion." "Lol, bet the show is going to be canceled anyway," another chimed in.

The slamming over social media continued with one user writing, "Thematically, this is how Sam Levingston operates. He is a button pusher. A firestarter. Truth is he cares more about how the shot is framed then what is in the shot. He is clearly a technical director who cares less about the subject, but the subject usual involves—"

"This mans needs to be blacklisted. Like you can’t just brush it off by saying he’s just a creative, no, he has suppressed r@pe and abuse fantasies and directing these shows is an outlet for him," said another social media user.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.