Many people by now are wondering if the latest Idol series is based on the Britney Spears story.
The first episode of the long-announced and highly anticipated series from HBO Max – The Idol – is finally out. Heavily controversial and provocative, but shows what a star’s life is really like and that it is not at all as colorful as everyone might think.
The Idol tells the story of Jocelyn – an up-and-coming pop singer who develops a peculiar relationship with a nightclub owner named Tedros. In leading roles, we can see not only Lily-Rose Depp or The Weeknd but also Troye Sivan or K-pop star Jennie from Blackpink.
Is Idol about Britney Spears?
Many people have already watched the first episode of Idol, so there has been a flurry of opinions online. As predicted, we got what we could see on the trailers – strong controversy, provocation, nudity, and all sorts of devastating “substances” at every turn.
In addition to the many intimate scenes, bizarre frames, and club life, we mainly see the story of a young and damaged music star letting herself be exploited by a brutal industry. This is why many people feel that the series is about the early years of Britney Spears’ popularity. Especially since many months ago, the celebrity herself added a post on her Instagram, in which she explicitly wrote that she had finished recording for Idol… although the directors themselves later dismissed the rumors.
Nevertheless, the series still looks as if the story of Britney Spears was a strong inspiration for it. Especially since we can already see references to the famous singer in the first episode. At the recent Cannes Film Festival, Lily-Rose Depp herself responded to the press that “there was really a lot of inspiration from a personality like Britney Spears, whom she adores.”
However, when asked directly if Jocelyn’s story was based on Britney Spears, her answer was in complete denial.
No, it’s not based on anyone in particular. We’re definitely not trying to tell anyone else’s story, but definitely create one of our own… This is a fictional character and fictional story.
Sam Levinson, who is Idol’s main director, also pulled the response further and agreed with the actress that while there are certainly similarities between Jocelyn and Britney, Idol is not about any particular star. The entire statement by the director and actress was shared by Variety on its social media.
Opinions on the series are as controversial as the production itself. The first episode premiered on June 4, 2023, and subsequent episodes are scheduled to appear on the platform every Sunday. Idol has 6 episodes scheduled, and the last one is scheduled to appear on July 9, 2023.