Bethenny Frankel defends The Weeknd’s ‘sleazy’ ‘The Idol’ character: There are 50 ‘Hollywood guys’ like him
Bethenny Frankel doesn’t understand the backlash over The Weeknd’s character in the controversial HBO series “The Idol.”
“There are 50 sleazy, sleazy Hollywood guys like [The Weeknd’s character] that I remember from living in LA,” she said in a TikTok video Tuesday.
“It’s totally realistic, so what are we doing?”
The “Real Housewives of New York City” alum emphasized that it’s a “fiction story” and viewers don’t have to debate whether it’s “empowering or not empowering.”
“[People are] making Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd these villains. It’s a fiction story! Don’t watch it!” Frankel added.
She continued to question why “The Idol” crosses the line when compared to movies like “The Silence of the Lambs” and “The Accused,” which also feature evil characters.
“Like what happened to everyone? Everything’s supposed to be rinsed? And there are no fictional characters anymore?” she wondered.
The Skinnygirl founder, 52, concluded her rant, saying that not everything on television will be as PG-rated as “Saved by the Bell.”
“Has everyone lost their f–king minds? OK, you don’t like the show, don’t watch it. Suck your thumb, get a pacifier and shut the f–k up!” Frankel concluded.
While some of Frankel’s 1.4 million TikTok followers agreed with her opinion, others argued that the show is just “really bad.”
“Exactly everyone needs to grow up Jesus,” one fan wrote.
“Exactly. Ppl act like they are being forced to watch these shows,” another user commented.
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“People have watched controversial things since tv’s [sic] were created. The shows just bad. Really really bad. That’s the only reason people care,” one person countered.
“Beth— we love you. The issue isn’t the fiction. The issue is the quality. I wanted to give it a shot, I did. It was bad. I gave it up. Others should 2,” another added.
Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye stars in the HBO drama as shady nightclub owner Tedros who gets involved with troubled pop star Jocelyn, played by Depp.
The “Save Your Tears” singer, 33, also co-created the series, which has received primarily negative feedback, alongside Reza Fahim and “Euphoria” director Sam Levinson.
In addition to Tesfaye being called a “comically bad” actor, the show has faced critique for promoting a “rape fantasy” and including more nudity and graphic sex scenes than considered necessary.
The latest episode made fans even more upset with an “appalling” joke about convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The musician recently defended his “douchebag” character and said the criticism of “The Idol” was “very much expected.”
“We’re playing with genres with this show, we’re doing exactly what we wanted to do,” Tesfaye told Variety in an interview published Tuesday.
“And none of this is a surprise. I’m excited for everyone to watch the rest of the show.”
Depp, 24, has also backed “The Idol” and raved about Levinson, whom she called the “best” director she’s ever worked with.
“Never have I felt more supported or respected in a creative space, my input and opinions more valued,” she told Page Six in March after he was accused of ramping up the show’s sexual content.
“Working with Sam is a true collaboration in every way — it matters to him, more than anything, not only what his actors think about the work, but how we feel performing it,” she added.
