The Weeknd, Abel Tesfaye, Reacts to The Idol Criticism

The Weeknd bit his tongue when it came to his thoughts on The Idol. 

Two years after the HBO series aired, the “Save Your Tears” singer—real name Abel Tesfaye—explained why he opted not to overshare his thoughts amid production. 

“Then I become ‘difficult,’” Tesfaye told The Guardian of why he didn’t have much influence over the Sam Levinson series. “The worst thing you can be called in Hollywood is difficult. ‘Difficult’ spreads!”

And since The Idol was Tesfaye’s first big role in Hollywood as an actor and executive producer, he wanted to make sure he didn’t push anyone’s buttons. 

“You’ve got to pay your dues,” he explained. “And boy, did I pay my dues.”

Indeed, The Idol, which also starred Lily-Rose Depp, was exposed shortly before its premiere for its poorly handled production, and the series was promptly poorly received by critics. And now that the gig is behind him, Tesfaye admitted to The Guardian that the criticism of the series “makes a lot of sense.”