Unveiling The Idol: Exploring the Most Provocative Scenes in the Premiere

Lily-Rose Depp • The Weeknd • Johnny Depp • Sam Levinson: It's the show everyone has been waiting for. HBO's "The Idol," starring Lily-Rose Depp and Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye, premiered Sunday night and - to no one's surprise - was filled with explicit scenes. The series has been mired in controversy following reshoots and reports of toxic behavior by creator Sam Levinson, but the cast has stood by its director.

In a March statement following the accusations, Rose-Depp said, "I have never felt so supported and respected in the creative space and that my opinions and impressions were valued. Working with Sam is a true collaboration in every way." For him, it's not just about what the actors think about the work, but most importantly, how we feel when we play it. He hires people who appreciate his work and has always created an environment where I feel seen, heard, and appreciated."

Depp plays pop star Jocelyn, who is shooting a music video when the pilot begins. Having chosen to stop touring after her mother's death, she is trying to make a comeback and may be on the verge of a mental breakdown. But there is no need to worry, as one of her handlers points out, "Mental illness is sexy." Apparently that is why she wears a hospital bracelet in her cover art. (Simone Biles also made mental health a priority, so there are some odd comparisons to her.)

During the shoot, she tells the cameraman that she would love to go completely topless, but because of Ryder, she can't. Her manager (Hank Azaria) finds a solution by locking the intimacy coordinator in the bathroom and paying the crew $5,000 to lock the door.

She seems confident in her team, but clearly struggles during the shoot. The watching team, however, brags about her, comparing her to Britney Spears. Then it turns out that a photo of her has been leaked on the Internet.

When she finds out, she is upset, but decides to relax at the club, thinking that there could be something worse. There, she meets club owner Tedros (Tesfaye), who is the leader of a modern-day cult, and she has an affair with him in the hallway. Upon returning home, she masturbates while choking herself.

The next day she tells her best friend and assistant Leia (Rachel Sennott) the same thing she told Tedros. She also says she is interested in Tedros, but Leia is disgusted and says it is "rapey." Jocelyn replies, "I kind of like that about him."

With that, she invites him over to her house and tells him that she is not happy with how the album turned out. In the studio, she gives him a listen to the upcoming song, which she feels is superficial. He tells her that she needs to "sing like she knows how to fuck" while rubbing ice on her feet.

He then tells her to believe him, which she doesn't, but allows him to take off her robe and wrap it completely around her head. To secure it, he uses a belt to wrap it around her neck and she begins to strangle him. He takes out a knife and drills a hole in her mouth so she can finally breathe, and he tells her not to be afraid.

Then he says, "Now you can sing."