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The Idol controversy explained: Why Sam Levinson's new HBO series is being called toxic

Long before it hit screens, The Idol was surrounded with media controversy. Sam Levinson, the man behind Euphoria, directs the series, which stars Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd in his acting debut.

Culture critics Rad Simonpillai and Sarah-Tai Black unpack the controversy surrounding the new HBO series

CBC Arts ·
Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, Lily-Rose Depp
Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye and Lily-Rose Depp in a scene from Episode 1 of HBO's The Idol. (Eddy Chen/HBO)
13:17Reviewing Episode 1 of HBO's new series The Idol
Culture critics Rad Simonpillai and Sarah-Tai Black unpack the controversy surrounding the new HBO series The Idol and what it all says about the allure of toxic masculinity in TV storylines.

The new HBO series The Idol premiered on June 4, but for months, it's been making headlines for what some viewers are saying is the glamorization of toxic masculinity in TV storylines.

Sam Levinson is the show's director. He's also the creator of the award-winning HBO series Euphoria, which had its own share of criticisms and controversies — something Levinson is known for leaning into and capitalizing on.

Culture critics Rad Simonpillai and Sarah-Tai Black unpack the controversy surrounding The Idol and what it says about the allure of toxic masculinity in TV storylines.

WATCH | Official trailer for HBO's The Idol:

You can listen to the full discussion from today's show on CBC Listen or on our podcast, Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud, available wherever you get your podcasts.

Panel produced by Tyrone Callender.

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