
As viewers gear up for the fifth and closing episode of Sam Levinson’s extremely controversial HBO present, “The Idol,” many eagle-eyed followers have begun to note eerie similarities between the primary character and a well-known pop singer.
“The Idol” stars Lily-Rose Depp as Jocelyn, a troubled singer who has returned to the highlight after experiencing a nervous breakdown, and The Weeknd as Tedros, a manipulative and abusive self-help guru who begins a poisonous relationship with Jocelyn.
The present has acquired a slew of backlash, even earlier than it premiered on HBO earlier this month, with many individuals describing it as “sexual torture porn” and a “rape fantasy.” Nonetheless, viewers are actually additionally criticizing The Weeknd, who created the present alongside Levinson, for creating Jocelyn utilizing particulars from his ex-girlfriend, Selena Gomez’s, life.
Listed below are 7 explanation why followers assume ‘The Idol’ was impressed by Selena Gomez’s profession.
1. Jocelyn wears a hospital bracelet throughout a photoshoot.
Within the present’s first episode, Jocelyn is seen posing for her album cowl whereas carrying a hospital bracelet left over from her time in a psychological facility.
After the scene aired, many followers identified that the shot appeared fairly just like when Selena Gomez additionally posed carrying a hospital bracelet whereas selling her music “Unhealthy Liar” in 2017, which was additionally throughout the time that the singer was relationship The Weeknd.
On the time, Gomez had been in search of therapy for Lupus, a situation that the “Solely Murders In The Constructing” star has been open and sincere about with the media and her followers.
2. Each Jocelyn and Gomez posed topless for a photoshoot.
Within the opening of the primary episode, Jocelyn is seen posing seductively for a photograph shoot for her album as she slides off her nightgown to get partially nude.
Whereas the completed album cowl wasn’t a duplicate of Gomez’s cowl for her 2015 album “Revival,” it did not cease many followers from noticing the similarity. Throughout an interview with The Hollywood Reporter for his or her Comedy Actress Roundtable in 2022, Gomez admitted that she felt “ashamed” of that shoot.
“I really did an album cowl and I used to be actually ashamed after I did it,” the “Uncommon” singer revealed.
3. Jocelyn and Gomez are each youngster stars.
Within the first couple of episodes of “The Idol,” it is defined that Lily-Rose Depp’s character began as a baby star and has been within the trade since she was pretty younger, contributing to the psychological well being points that she has suffered from.
The identical may be mentioned for Gomez, who started her profession after securing a job on “Barney & Pals” when the pop singer was nonetheless younger. Gomez additionally gained recognition as the primary star on Disney’s “Wizards Of Waverly Place.”
In a February 2023 interview with Self-importance Truthful, Gomez opened up concerning the strain she felt being a baby star and the way she generally will get “triggered” by her Disney previous.
“I undoubtedly really feel freed from it. Generally I get triggered. It isn’t that I am ashamed of my previous, it is simply that I’ve labored so exhausting to search out my very own means,” Gomez admitted. “I wasn’t a wild youngster by any means, however I used to be on Disney, so I had to verify to not say ‘What the hell?’ in entrance of anybody. It is stuff that I used to be additionally placing on myself to be the very best function mannequin I may very well be.”
4. Jocelyn canceled her tour on account of her psychological well being.
Earlier than the occasions on the present, it is defined that Jocelyn was compelled to cancel her world tour on account of having a “psychological breakdown” following the loss of life of her mom.
In 2016, Gomez introduced that she can be canceling her Revival tour due to well being issues. “I’ve found that anxiousness, panic assaults, and melancholy may be uncomfortable side effects of lupus, which may current their very own challenges,” Gomez instructed Folks Journal.
“I wish to be proactive and deal with sustaining my well being and happiness and have determined that the easiest way ahead is to take a while off.”
5. Jocelyn and Gomez have shut relationships with their assistants.
In all probability some of the apparent similarities which have followers believing Selena Gomez impressed the character of Jocelyn on “The Idol” is Jocelyn’s shut relationship together with her assistant and finest pal, Leia, performed by Rachel Sennott.
Within the present, Jocelyn and Leia are supposed to have been buddies for many of their lives, with Leia now working as Jocelyn’s private assistant. The 2 ladies typically collaborate on initiatives collectively, and Jocelyn goes to Leia for recommendation about her profession.
The identical may be mentioned for Gomez, who has been open about her shut relationship with Theresa Mingus, who works because the singer’s government assistant. Mingus and Gomez have even collaborated on Mingus’ swim line, La’Mariette.
6. Each Jocelyn and Gomez wish to be taken critically as artists.
One of many predominant points that Jocelyn appears to have together with her profession in “The Idol” is fearing that individuals will not take her music critically. It is one of many explanation why Jocelyn gravitates towards Tedros, performed by The Weeknd, feeling as if his imaginative and prescient for her profession is what will assist her succeed.
In a March 2021 interview with Vogue, Gomez revealed that she was contemplating retiring from music as a result of she felt folks did not take her critically as a musician.
“It is exhausting to maintain doing music when folks do not essentially take you critically,” Gomez instructed the publication. “I’ve had moments the place I have been like, ‘What is the level? Why do I preserve doing this?’ ‘Lose You to Love Me’ I felt was the very best music I’ve ever launched, and for some folks, it nonetheless wasn’t sufficient.”
7. Jocelyn’s Instagram Stay rant is just like Gomez’s.
Within the fourth episode of “The Idol,” Jocelyn has an emotional scene the place she is addressing the general public scrutiny of her profession whereas on Instagram Stay together with her followers.
Many eagle-eyed followers identified how Gomez was giving an identical rant on her personal Instagram again in 2018. Based on OK! Journal, the “Fingers to Myself” singer opened as much as her Instagram followers about her melancholy, anxiousness, and fame.
“I am right here for you guys and I do not care concerning the press, I do not care about what persons are going to say. I simply needed to do that to speak to you guys,” Gomez mentioned, eerily mirroring the identical speech Jocelyn offers on “The Idol.”
“I simply needed to be actual with you, as a result of I do not really feel like being on one other journal cowl. I do not really feel like being on one other one ever once more. It simply would not matter.”
Sam Levinson shut down rumors that ‘The Idol’ was about any specific pop singer.
Whereas many of those theories may be argued on whether or not or not Levinson and The Weeknd used Gomez’s profession as inspiration for the character of Jocelyn, the present is supposed to offer commentary on feminine pop singers in Hollywood.
Whereas Jocelyn may be simply in comparison with different singers apart from Gomez, together with Britney Spears, Sam Levinson admitted throughout the Cannes Movie Competition debut of the present, “We aren’t making an attempt to inform a narrative about any specific pop star.”
“It’s quite a lot of strain — to need to continually be on, and to be what everybody needs you to be,” he continued. “It’s a lonely life.”
“We are able to all fake that everybody is looking for somebody’s finest curiosity, however I believe fame actually corrupts; it’s very easy to encompass your self with myth-makers who proceed to prop us up.”
Nia Tipton is a Chicago-based leisure, information, and way of life author whose work delves into modern-day points and experiences.