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Immoral Show THE IDOL Slammed By Viewers For ‘Excessive’ Nudity And Perverse Sex Scenes

Poster courtesy of MMPA

Immoral Show THE IDOL Slammed By Viewers For ‘Excessive’ Perverse Nudity And Sex

By Movieguide® Contributor

HBO’s THE IDOL premiered this weekend and the show is already facing criticism for its excessive sex scenes. 

THE IDOL follows a rising pop star, played by Lily Rose Depp, who gets swept up in a relationship with a cult leader. 

Fans have just seen the first episode of the series, but are already complaining about “violent sex and excessive nudity” and calling THE IDOL “reductive and sad.”

Major outlets have criticized THE IDOL as well. Rolling Stone published interviews with 13 anonymous cast and crew members, who called the show a “rape fantasy” and a “degrading love story with a hollow message.”

THE IDOL was created by Sam Levinson, who was also behind the high school drama EUPHORIA.

Movieguide® previously reported on Levinson’s involvement in THE IDOL:

HBO doubles down on immoral content for kids and teens with THE IDOL a series even more perverse than their previous drama EUPHORIA.

THE IDOL was originally meant to criticize the entertainment industry for the exploitation entertainers are forced to endure if they want to make it in the scene. However, production issues, including director Amy Seimetz leaving the show after 80 percent of the series had been shot, lead to rewrites and a complete change in the show’s direction. 

“What I signed up for was a dark satire of fame and the fame model in the 21st century. The things that we subject our talent and start to, the forces that put people in the spotlight and how that can be manipulated,” a production member told Rolling Stone. “[However,] it went from satire to the thing it was satirizing.” 

A driving factor in that change came from the introduction of Sam Levinson as director of the show after Seimetz left production. Levinson altered the show’s trajectory by dialing up the nudity and disturbing sexual content to rival that of his previous show EUPHORIA. 

This is not the first time Levinson has been criticized for the explicit and excessive sexual content in his work. Movieguide® reported on EUPHORIA’s use of explicit content throughout its second season:

EUPHORIA is an HBO television series, starring Zendaya, Hunter Schrader, Sydney Sweeney and Jacob Elordi. It is written by Sam Levinson and directed by Augustine Frizzell, Sam Levin-son and Jennifer Morrison. The show follows 17 year old Rue, a drug addict recently released from rehab, and those around her at school. The teenagers struggle to make their way through ad-diction, sexuality and relationships.

EUPHORIA SEASON 2 holds a strongly negative worldview, and has very little to no Christian values. The show seeks to demonstrate sexuality, addiction and relationships in a raw manner, yet it tends to romanticize these actions at times. Many characters engage in drug and alcohol use, which is mildly rebuked but often accepted, or tolerated. Sex is frequently shown explicitly, and violence is often used to resolve issues. Profanity and obscenities are heavily used through-out the episodes. Characters use blackmail, manipulation and physical violence to achieve what they want, and is often if not always explicitly shown.

There is excessive foul language and profanity in the episodes released. In 3 episodes, there are almost 200 obscenities. The show also has explicit violence, with the aftermath and gore of said violence being shown without restraint. There is excessive nudity, both by men and women. Throughout the episodes, full nudity is shown several times. Alongside this, there is excessive depicted sexual content, in both hetero- and homo-sexual relationships. There is an excessive amount of drug and alcohol use, with extreme drugs such as heroin being used frequently by characters. The consumption of said drugs and their effects are often portrayed explicitly. The characters engage in several acts of miscellaneous immorality, including cheating in relation-ships, blackmail and manipulation.

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.