HBO's "The Idol" just dropped its second episode earlier this week and some social media users are dragging the TV series for its inappropriate themes and what they dubbed as "cringey" acting from the actors.
More recently, creator and lead actor, The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, spoke out about the negative comments the show had received since it got released.
In an interview with GQ, the musician expressed his true feelings about the public response regarding "The Idol."
The musician, who plays the role of Tedros, said he's "loving it." The main reason why he thinks this way is because the show "definitely shaken up the culture for sure."
"We knew we were making something dark and controversial but true to what we want to say," he added. (via Uproxx)
The interviewer later asked if viewers are interacting with the show the way he intended, to which he noted that the discussion regarding the story is "healthy, no matter what" and he's happy that there is a conversation happening around.
The Weeknd Describes His Character Tedros on 'The Idol'
Since the first episode, the role of Tedros remains a mystery to viewers, and The Weeknd explained that his omnious vibe is intentional as he wanted the audience to peel the layers in each episode.
"Piece by piece, week by week, we'll reveal who he is. But he's what you see on screen. He's definitely a challenge. He's despicable, a psychopath," he told the outlet.
READ ALSO: Sara Bareilles 2023: New Musical in the Works, 'Love Song' Singer Releasing New Song, Too?
He further explained that there is nothing "hypnotizing" about his character and they wanted to bring out his character through the physical aspects as well as his views about himself.
The Weeknd labeled Tedros as a "douchebag" because he's the type of person who cares so much about himself, but there are also a few "weird moments" of him whenever he's alone as his every move is rehearsed and calculated.
'The Idol' Rotten Tomatoes Score
Prior to "The Idol's" release, the first two episodes were premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in France and it appears that critics were not happy with the show.
The new HBO series, directed by Sam Levinson, reportedly got the lowest rating for any HBO series on Rotten Tomatoes as it received a shocking 17% late last month.
Today, it has an average 26% Tomatometer and a 58% average audience score on the review website.
The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp's series comes out every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET.
READ MORE: Broadway Sings Taylor Swift Tickets: Experience 'The Eras' Tour For $30
