Is HBO’s ‘The Idol’ Based on a True Story? How the “Cult” of the Music Industry Inspired The Weeknd And Sam Levinson

While incredibly uncomfortable and off-putting at times, HBO’s controversial new series The Idol is impossible to look away from. Since its premiere earlier this month, critics and viewers alike have critcized Abel Tesfaye (a.k.a. The Weeknd) for creating a show they described as “sexual torture porn.”

Co-created by Euphoria‘s Sam Levinson, Reza Fahim and Tesfaye, The Idol stars Lily-Rose Depp as Jocelyn — an emotionally vulnerable pop star who falls under the cult-like leadership of her new boyfriend, a mysterious club owner named Tedros. While she’s blinded by their romance and the so-called music manager’s promises to remix her album, those around Jocelyn quickly become suspicious of the new man in her life.

While much of the show revolves around the music industry — something Tesfaye is surely no stranger to — we can’t help but wonder: is The Idol based on a true story? Read on for more information.

Is The Idol based on a true story?

No, The Idol isn’t based on a specific true story. However, much of the cult-like concepts behind the music industry served as an inspiration for Tesfaye — a Grammy award-winning artist — and Levinson.

“When the multi-talented Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye, Reza Fahim, and Sam Levinson brought us The Idol, it was clear their subversive, revelatory take on the cult of the music industry was unlike anything HBO had ever done before,” Francesca Orsi, an executive producer on the show, told Entertainment Weekly.

Tesfaye elaborated on the concept behind The Idol during a Cannes press conference last month, where he said he wanted to make a “dark, twisted fairytale” about the music industry using everything he knows and heightening it, per Deadline.

“Can we create our own pop star? Can we create somebody who is trying to find themselves, using my experiences, using [Levinson’s] experiences, using Lily’s experiences on creating something special, daring and exciting and fun that will make people laugh, piss some people off?” he said.

Is Lily-Rose Depp’s Jocelyn based on Britney Spears?

While Jocelyn’s music and costumes are reminiscent of Britney Spears — and the show’s makeup artist even said she drew inspiration from the iconic early 2000s pop star — Levinson insisted that Depp’s character is not based on anyone specific.

“We’re not trying to tell a story about any particular pop star,” he said, per Deadline. “It’s a lot of pressure — to have to constantly be on, and to be what everyone wishes you to be. It’s a lonely life.”

He continued, “We can all pretend that everyone is looking out for someone’s best interest, but I think fame really corrupts; it’s really easy to surround yourself with myth-makers who continue to prop us up.”

Depp added that they are “not telling anyone else’s story” through Jocelyn’s character, but they wanted her to feel both like a “pop star of our time” and “one that is her own plane.” Even so, the actress said she was influenced by icons like Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct and Jeanne Moreau.

The Idol airs on Sunday nights on HBO and Max.