"With this series we like to play with emotions."
The Weeknd responds to backlash over his sex scenes on the latest episode of his new series 'The Idol'.
The singer, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, opened up about the controversial scene in the show's second episode in a new interview with GQ.
While on screen the two characters he plays and his co-star Lily-Rose Depp get close, The Weeknd said there was nothing "sexy" about the scene.
“There's nothing sexy about it. When we use 'Basic Instinct' as a reference, we use Verhoeven," he said.
"Verhoeven is the king of the satirical thriller of the 90s. – yes, there are "sexy" moments in his films, but there are also other moments that are very kitsch and hilarious," he explained.
"Whatever you're feeling watching that scene, whether it's discomfort, or disgust, or shame for the characters, it's all these feelings that add up: This situation is one where it shouldn't be here," he added. .
In "The Idol," The Weeknd plays Tedros, a charismatic cult leader and self-help guru who promises rising pop star Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) the world and will stop at nothing to make her famous.
As for his role, The Weeknd admits that Tedros pushes his boundaries in his pursuit of Jocelyn, which he said comes across on screen, even in the love scenes.
"You look at him and that's an asset - Jocelyn is probably the biggest asset he's ever had," he said.
"It's very obvious. He's over the top, he walks into this house and looks around saying, “Damn, have I gone too far? This might be the biggest job I've ever done. Whatever he's doing,'' he continued.
“Even in sex, he's so voracious. Especially in the second episode. "Gluttony" is the only word I can think of to describe it. He can't believe he's there. He comes off as a loser,” he described.
"These are the moments when you find the humanity in a psychopath, the chink in his armor," he noted.
The emotions in 'The Idol' switch at a fast pace and this is done deliberately so that the show keeps the viewers in suspense. But no matter how dark the show gets, The Weeknd emphasized that there's always an element of comedy.
“With this series, we like to play with emotions. We play with your emotions like puppets through the series. There's never a set tone, and that's on purpose," he noted.
