5 Yucky Moments That Made The Idol Even Creepier Than It Already Was
Love or hate this show, but it still got your attention.
The short-lived HBO series, The Idol, faced controversy and criticism for its behind-the-scenes drama and overly sexualized scenes from its very first episode. The show's outrageous moments added little to the plot and were considered disrespectful to real-life celebrity struggles.
Here are the show's most WTF moments that the Internet can't stop talking about.
Tedros' Dirty Talk
The Weekend's character received massive backlash not only for being an overly masculine and abusive character but also for the awkward lines he delivers. In the final moments of the second episode, Jocelyn and Tedros engage in explicit sexual activity, accompanied by an uncomfortable monologue and some dirty words from Tedros that we wish we had never heard.
The Whole Hairbrush Story
In a heart-wrenching moment, Jocelyn tearfully shares her traumatic past on Instagram Live at the insistence of Tedros. However, the show's finale reveals that the whole story of Jocelyn's mother beating her with a hairbrush was made up. The Idol's twist ending is confusing and undermines the seriousness of the issue of child abuse, treating it instead as a joke.
Tedros Pleasures Jocelyn In The Studio
During the recording session, Tedros takes advantage of Jocelyn's vulnerability by blindfolding her and engaging her in a sexual act in order to elicit the vocal response he wants from her. This uncomfortable and non-consensual moment feels more like an assault, as it underscores Tedros' controlling Jocelyn's body for his own benefit.
Tedros’ Obsession With Shock Collars
First, Tedros is shown staging a disturbing scene in which Izaak performs in front of a group of motionless bodies. Tedros instructs Izaak to be more seductive, even to the point of using a shock collar as a means of control. Then, in another disturbing scene, Tedros uses the collar to punish Xander by subjecting him to electric shocks. What the hell is wrong with this guy?
The False Rape Allegation
The finale of The Idol featured a highly offensive storyline involving a false rape allegation against Jocelyn's ex-boyfriend, which perpetuated harmful stereotypes about women and made it one of the worst moments of the season.