Lily-Rose Depp Says Criticisms of ‘The Idol’ Co-Creator Sam Levinson “Couldn’t Be Further From the Truth”

by

Lily-Rose Depp will always have Sam Levinson‘s back.

The actress is still standing by the co-creator of “The Idol” following the criticism he faced in 2023 over the contentious HBO show where Johnny Depp played Jocelyn opposite Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye’s Tedros. Levinson, who also developed “Euphoria,” featuring Zendaya, continues to receive support from her.

Recently, I expressed that it was upsetting to hear disrespectful comments about Sam Levinson, someone I deeply value as a friend and practically consider family. I’m very close with both Sam and Ashley Levinson – his wife who also works on the show – and they are genuinely wonderful, kind individuals who have been incredibly supportive towards me.

Regarding the star of Nosferatu, they added, “During that entire phase, it was disheartening to hear people speak ill of [Sam]. The things they said about him, especially regarding his abilities as a filmmaker, were not only inaccurate but also contradicted my personal experience working with him. It’s unfortunate to listen to such unkind remarks about a friend.

The series, titled “The Idol,” chronicled the story of a struggling pop star portrayed by Depp, who finds himself in a convoluted romance with Tedros, a contemporary cult leader who also owns a nightclub. However, this HBO production only lasted for a single season before it was ultimately discontinued.

Depp admitted that while she cherishes her character and the show, they had always anticipated that it would stir up controversy. She also expressed an affinity for taking on such challenging roles.

In her own words, the actress from “Voyagers” shared, “People will form their own views about things, so you must remain firm in your understanding of ‘I understand why I’m making these choices,’ and I stand by my actions. That phase in my life was a time of immense learning, where I was challenged beyond my comfort zone, in the most wonderful way, leading to significant personal growth. I will forever cherish those times as some of the most precious moments in my life.

Depp stated, “We deliberately nudged society a bit, intentionally, you could say, and it turned out as expected. However, it’s all right. … It’s stunning and I wouldn’t alter anything about it.”

Or

Depp admitted that they purposefully provoked society a little, knowingly, and the result was as anticipated. But overall, it’s fine. … It’s captivating and I wouldn’t change a thing about it.

The actress who played Wolf, Johnnie Depp and Vanessa Paradis’ daughter, expressed a similar thought during the series premiere in June 2023, stating, “I believe none of us were aiming to create something light-hearted and suitable for all ages.

Initially, the marketing for the show emphasized its edgy nature, but it faced negative reactions after Rolling Stone published an exposé claiming that the series deviated drastically and inappropriately from its intended path following the exit of the original director, Amy Seimetz.

Read More

2025-01-05 08:55