‘The Idol’ Canceled Officially – The Internet Does It Again

Hold onto your popcorn folks, because ‘The Idol’ has just had its final curtain call, and the internet’s reaction is a chef’s kiss! In a plot twist, even Hollywood couldn’t script, this polarizing show has officially been canceled, and it is all thanks to the glorious chaos of the online world. The show has no plans to return for a second season as promised before.

The Announcement

HBO’s controversial series “The Idol” created by Sam Levinson and Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, has been officially canceled after just one season. The decision was made due to uncertainty about the show’s future, which left both viewers and cast members in the dark. Initially planned for six episodes, the first season ended after just five episodes on July 2. The cancellation followed confusion about whether the series would continue.

HBO expressed satisfaction with the audience response to “The Idol” but ultimately chose not to proceed with a second season. The show faced challenges and controversy from the beginning, including director changes and allegations of a toxic set environment. Despite initial buzz, the series ended up being poorly received. ‘The Idol’ earned a 19% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with one review describing it as a “sordid male fantasy”.

How ‘The Idol’ Got Canceled Before This Announcement?

Although the show’s ratings started with 913,000 viewers, which was lower than Levinson’s earlier HBO series “Euphoria,” they grew to 3.6 million after the first week and now stand at 7 million. Throughout the series’ run, HBO did not release further viewership data.

When Sam Levinson announced “The Idol,” anticipation was high, given his previous hit, “Euphoria.” However, the show, despite having a star-studded cast, including Lily-Rose Depp, The Weeknd, and even Jennie from Blackpink faced troubles from the start. Rolling Stone exposed backstage turmoil, with Levinson taking over from the original director and drastically changing the show’s direction.

Debuting at the Cannes Film Festival, “The Idol” received harsh criticism, labeled as “sleazy” and “gross” by critics. The situation didn’t improve upon release. It garnered intense online backlash, with viewers finding it bizarre and disturbing in a distasteful way. The show’s explicit and uncomfortable scenes, including one involving asphyxiation, further fueled the negativity.

These negative reactions, led to the show’s “cancellation” before HBO even made this announcement. As of now, it is considered “one of the worst” if not “the worst” shows of the decade by internet users.

With that “cancellation” out of the way, HBO finalized it with the announcement. Despite its initial promise of two seasons, the cancellation marks the end of the road for this polarizing series.

Where you a fan of the series, or are you happy it is gone forever now? Let us know down below!