HBO series The Idol is wrapping up an episode early (Picture: HBO)
The Idol is set to end one week earlier than originally announced following intense backlash.
Created by Euprhoria’s Sam Levinson, the HBO series was one of the most-anticipated shows of the year, however a Rolling Stone article released in March labelled it as ‘torture porn’ before a single episode have even hit screens.
Then, when the show finally did premiere earlier this month, it was slammed by critics and audiences alike, with some saying the explicit content went too far.
While the show was originally set to run for six episodes, star Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye has confirmed the fifth will be its last.
Sharing the news on social media, co-creator Tesfaye, 33, said the show had ‘one more episode’, which will air this Sunday.
While it’s not been announced by the team behind the show exactly why an episode had been cut, a source has explained more.
The show starred Lily-Rose Depp and Abel Tesfaye, but was slammed for some explicit scenes (Picture: HBO)
‘The season ended up being five episodes when it was all said and done after Sam took over and made significant changes. The story only ended up requiring five,’ they told TV Line.
The final episode, titled Jocelyn Forever, will likely centre on Lily- Rose Depp, who plays the titular character, an up-and-coming- pop singer who after having a nervous breakdown began a complex relationship with Tedros (Tesfaye), a self-help guru and the head of a contemporary cult.
Controversy surrounding the show first began after sources told Rolling Stone that the project had gone ‘wildly, disgustingly off the rails’ and was ‘in turmoil’.
Soon after Tesfaye hit back, shading the publication with a clip from the show that called the magazine ‘irrelevant’.
The first two episodes were panned by critics, with some labelling it ‘torture porn’, with some viewers slamming the explicit scenes.
Two weeks ago, HBO responded to rumours the show was facing the axe, saying a decision was yet to be made on any subsequent seasons.
In a statement, HBO said it was ‘being misreported that a decision on a second season of The Idol has been determined’ and that it ‘has not’.
Metro.co.uk has contacted HBO for comment.
The Idol is streaming on NOW and Sky Atlantic.
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The future of the show is also uncertain.