The Idol viewers slam 'sickening' script after 'appalling' Epstein joke

19 June 2023 , 07:51
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The Idol viewers slam
The Idol viewers slam 'sickening' script after 'appalling' Epstein joke

The Idol viewers have threatened to boycott the show after witnessing a "sickening and appalling" joke about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The new HBO series has already faced a huge backlash since its release after featuring an X-rated sex scene with singer The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp, but viewers now think the show has gone too far.

Sunday night's episode, titled Daybreak, featured even more sex scenes with the characters Jocelyn and Tedros (played by Lily-Rose and The Weeknd respectively).

In one scene, the Live Nation representative Andrew Finkelstein (played by Eli Roth ) says he is upset about Jocelyn and compares the situation to Epstein's private island.

"Right now she's making me have IBS. I'm f***ing s****ing more blood than a kid at Epstein's island," he said.

The Last of Us stars banned from using certain word on set and fans aren't happy qhidquiqzkidreinvThe Last of Us stars banned from using certain word on set and fans aren't happy
The Idol viewers slam 'sickening' script after 'appalling' Epstein jokeThe Idol viewers have hit out at the show (HBO)

Taking to Twitter, viewers shared their disgust at the "sick" joke.

"Okay, the Epstein's Island comment was too far for me in the new episode of The Idol. Let's not joke about child trafficking," one person said.

Another wrote: "That Epstein line in the idol is sickening," while a third viewer agreed: "That Epstein joke was appalling."

One viewer even threatened to boycott the show, tweeting: "It's DISGUSTING how you make fun of 'children on Epstein island' on this show it's producers are sick. #boycottTheIdol #boycottHBO."

The Idol viewers slam 'sickening' script after 'appalling' Epstein jokeLily-Rose Depp stars in the controversial show (HBO)

"I've been enjoying The Idol, but the Epstein’s island joke was tasteless AF," another person said.

The show already lost more than 100,000 viewers after receiving complaints over the X-rated sex scene between The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp's characters.

Variety has reported that the episode attracted 800,000 same-day viewers on Max and HBO, down from 913,000 for the premiere - meaning they have lost 113,000 viewers.

The Weeknd has spoken out about the scene, telling GQ: "There's nothing sexy about it. When we use Basic Instinct as a reference, we're using [filmmaker Paul] Verhoeven."

He later added: "However you're feeling watching that scene, whether it's discomfort, or you feel gross, or you feel embarrassed for the characters.

"It's all those emotions adding up to: This guy is in way over his head, this situation is one where he is not supposed to be here."

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The Idol continues on Sunday nights on HBO and Sky Atlantic.

Scarlett O'Toole

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