❘ Published: 2023-06-05T17:52:00
❘ Updated: 2023-06-05T22:56:18
Is the idol based on Britney Spears? The parallels between the controversial new HBO series and the princess of pop are obvious, but is Lily-Rose Depp’s character really meant to be Britney?
If you think all publicity is good publicity, then the new HBO drama from Sam Levinson and The Weeknd’s Euphoria might just be the biggest hit show of the year.
But alas, following its three-episode premiere at Cannes and the widespread release of its first episode, The Idol has proven to be just as divisive as the presumed off-screen drama, which you can read more about here. It’s provocative, edgy, and definitely not one to watch with your parents.
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Beyond the sex, drugs, and full frontal nudity, there’s also the story of a damaged pop star being exploited by the industry. Sounds familiar? Here’s what you need to know if The Idol is based on Britney Spears.
Is the idol based on Britney Spears?
No, The Idol’s main character, Jocelyn, is not based on Britney Spears, as confirmed by the actor and co-creator of the character, Sam Levinson; however, there are numerous reasons why people assumed this was the case.
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First of all, the Baby One More Time singer herself caused a bit of confusion back in 2021 when the show was still in development. At the time, she took to Instagram to write, “Just filmed a movie titled THE IDOL…it’s guaranteed to be hits and lots of brilliant photos to put on my beautiful family’s faces.”
creative commonsSince he dropped this at the same time that The Idol TV series news was going around, many people put two and two together. However, it appears they weren’t related, with sources telling TMZ that Spears “hadn’t been asked to be a part of the HBO show, and her team isn’t sure which movie she’s referring to in her caption.” “.
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Then there’s the fact that Jocelyn’s story bears similarities to Britney’s, in particular, facing pressure from her ruthless management team and so-called friends to act and make money, at the cost of her own mental well-being.
Between many comments suggesting that The Idol is a story of Spears, a fan wrote: “When watching The Idol, I feel that Britney Spears was an inspiration for the main character of The Idol. Her father/her husband was a version of the Abel character. She was the biggest and most popular pop star of the late ’90s and ’00s; but he was surrounded by the worst characters in the industry ”.
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And just as Levinson promised, there’s even a Britney reference in the first episode. He arrives as Jocelyn is practicing the dance routine for her comeback single as her management team watches.
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A Vanity Fair reporter calls the choreography a “tribute to Britney,” to which Jocelyn’s publicist responds (in typical PR style): “I think what Britney and Jocelyn have been through is really unique but ultimately universal, you know? Look what he’s gotten through, you know, the press has been brutal. But Britney too, people write them off, and this is Jocelyn saying they won’t write me off.”
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Depp only further fueled the comparison when he told E! News, “There was a lot of inspiration to be drawn from someone like Britney Spears, who I adore,” though he also mentioned “all the other amazing pop icons of our time.”
The actress clarified things in a chat with ExtraTV where she was asked if The Idol is based on Britney, to which Depp replied: “No, it’s not based on anyone in particular. We’re definitely not trying to tell anyone else’s story, but we’re definitely trying to create our own… This is a fictional character and a fictional story.”
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Levinson echoed these sentiments, suggesting that while there are certainly similarities between Jocelyn and Spears, The Idol isn’t about any one star in particular. Speaking at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, he said he (via Variety): “Look, I was a kid from the 90s, and [Britney’s] one of the biggest pop stars of all time… And no, we’re not trying to tell a story about any particular pop star.
“I think we are looking more at how the world perceives pop stars and the pressure it puts on that individual. It’s a lot of pressure having to be constantly on the go and having to be what everyone wants you to be. I also think it’s a lonely life, and we can all pretend like everyone is looking out for someone’s best interests, but I think fame really corrupts.”
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Idol Episode 1 is available to stream on Max, with new episodes being released weekly. You can find out more about the release schedule here, check out the reviews here, and learn a bit more about the controversy here.
