Lily-Rose Depp's controversial role in HBO's 'comically bad' 'The Idol' sparks calls for her career to be 'protected'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Lily-Rose Depp, the 24-year-old daughter of Hollywood stars Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis, is facing calls to be "protected" following her daring performance in HBO's latest series, 'The Idol'. The show, which has been described as "comically bad" and "torture porn," has raised concerns among industry insiders who fear it may negatively impact Depp's budding career.
Provocative plot and graphic scenes
In the provocative drama, Depp takes on the role of Jocelyn, a Britney Spears-style superstar fresh off a breakdown. Her character becomes entangled with Tedros, portrayed by the multi-talented artist The Weeknd (born Abel Tesfaye), who also happens to be the show's creator. The first episode alone features explicit scenes, including nudity, masturbation, and S&M, reminiscent of the notorious 1995 film 'Showgirls'.
Calls for protection
Hollywood insiders have expressed worries that Lily-Rose Depp could be pigeonholed into explicit and X-rated roles as a result of her involvement in 'The Idol'. A source close to the industry told Page Six, "Lily has to be protected; that is the most important thing. Aside from whether 'The Idol' is good or merely torture porn." Another production source echoed these concerns, stating, "She's still so young and impressionable... she says she feels empowered, but she has two men in charge (The Weeknd and Sam) telling her what to do."
Following the airing of the second episode on Sunday night, a guest who had seen an earlier screening at Cannes divulged to Page Six, "The second episode is almost worse than the first. There's this uncomfortable scene where (The Weeknd's character) orders (Jocelyn) to do certain things, and then a very graphic sex act. It's all very porny... most people in the audience were shocked."
'The Idol', which is now available for streaming on HBO's new Max platform, is the brainchild of Sam Levinson, the creator of the critically acclaimed series 'Euphoria'. Known for its audacious portrayal of sex and drugs among teenagers, Levinson's work often pushes boundaries. A well-informed Hollywood insider cautioned, "You gotta know what you're stepping into when you join a Sam Levinson show."
Debate over explicit depiction
Criticism has also arisen regarding Lily-Rose Depp's revealing scenes in 'The Idol'. The Hollywood Reporter noted, "Rarely does a scene go by without the camera showing flashes of her breasts or a**." While some argue that such explicitness is unnecessary, Depp's previous defense of the show's content has stirred additional controversy. In an interview with Rolling Stone, she addressed accusations that the series had devolved into "torture porn and a rape fantasy." Depp defended her character and creator Sam Levinson, saying, "Jocelyn is a born and bred performer - and I think that extends to every aspect of her life, not just her professional life... I was given the privilege of being really involved in the creation of this character and the ins and outs of how she expresses herself."
Asked about the allegations against Levinson, Lily-Rose Depp responded at Cannes, "Of course, it's always a little sad and disheartening to see mean, false things said about somebody that you really care about... and it was not reflective at all of my experience shooting the show."
Sexual fluidity and family support
In 2015, Lily-Rose made her sexual fluidity known when she joined the Self Evident Project, an organization that celebrates individuals on the LGBTQI spectrum. Her supportive father, Johnny Depp, shared his pride in their close relationship, stating, "I already knew because she tells me everything - she's not afraid to say anything to me. We're super-tight, and I'm very proud of our relationship."