‘The Idol’ May Not Return for Season 2 Amidst Claims of The Weeknd’s “Egomaniacal” Behavior on Set: Report

Sources claim The Idol could be done after just one season following its rocky premiere on HBO.

According to Page Six, series star and co-creator Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye is allegedly not planning a second season of the controversial drama — although the show was never officially promised a sophomore season, and very likely could be another limited series for the prestige network.

“This was never meant to be a long-running show, it was always … a limited series,” a source told Page Six.

HBO even denied the report on Twitter, sharing on their HBO PR account, “It is being misreported that a decision on a second season of The Idol has been determined. It has not, and we look forward to sharing the next episode with you Sunday night.”

The Idol, which recently debuted and has only premiered two episodes so far, has been embroiled in controversy since a damning report released in March claimed Tesfaye and Euphoria creator Sam Levinson gutted the show and turned it into a “rape fantasy.”

Its world premiere at Cannes brought on an onslaught of poor reviews, with some ripping the series as a “sordid male fantasy” and “sexual torture porn.” And since it premiered on HBO earlier this month, ratings have already fallen by 12 percent amid continued backlash and criticisms.

The source claimed to Page Six that HBO was not shocked by the controversy the show has caused. “It’s a Sam Levinson show, and you know what you’re getting with a Sam Levinson show,” the source said, referring to the creator who is also famous for Euphoria.

An industry insider said HBO was hoping The Idol would become a hit on Max, their revamped streaming service. “It was a big, big show for them with big talent and a lot of buzz,” the insider said. “But from what I heard, HBO knew it was a bit of a turkey as soon as they saw it.”

The Idol follows a pop star named Jocelyn, played by Lily-Rose Depp, who is desperate to reinvent her career. But she soon gets involved with Tedros, played by Tesfaye, a cult leader who pushes her limits in the name of revitalizing her music.

Sources had varying things to say about Tesfaye’s behavior on set. While some called him “egomaniacal,” others say he was “beloved.”

“He literally opened up his home for the cast and crew. Almost the entire show was shot inside his home,” a source close to production told Page Six.

Another claimed that noted that working with Tesfaye while he was in character was “not an ideal experience … and not one I am eager to repeat.”

Decider has reached out to HBO reps for comment.

While much has been made of the buzzy series and its NSFW scenes, The Weeknd himself insists he’s in on the bit. The performer said there was “nothing sexy” about his particularly cringey scene in Episode 2, telling GQ, “However you’re feeling watching that scene, whether it’s discomfort, or you feel gross, or you feel embarrassed for the characters. It’s all those emotions adding up to: this guy is in way over his head, this situation is one where he is not supposed to be here.”

The Idol airs on Sunday nights on HBO and is available to stream on Max.