Pop Stars That Inspired 'The Idol:' Britney, Selena Gomez and More
It’s only been a few weeks since “The Idol” premiered, but HBO‘s new series has already intrigued the pop culture zeitgeist.
“The Idol,” which sees Lily-Rose Depp in her first major television role, follows Jocelyn, a troubled pop star who finds herself in a twisted romance with a club owner and cult leader named Tedros (played by The Weeknd).
While Levinson maintains that “The Idol” isn’t based on “any particular pop star,” it hasn’t stopped viewers and, in some cases, the show’s writers, from comparing Jocelyn to real-life icons such as Britney Spears and the Weeknd’s ex, Selena Gomez.
Cover stories
“The Idol” opens as Jocelyn poses nude for an album cover photo shoot. Her team briefly contemplates whether she should take off her hospital bracelet, insinuating that Jocelyn was admitted to a mental institution, or possibly rehab. “Mental illness is sexy,” insists record executive Nikki Katz (Jane Adams), and the bracelet stays on.
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Fans of Gomez were quick to point out similarities between Jocelyn’s photo shoot and some of the “Rare” singer’s previous cover art. In promotional photos for her single “Bad Liar,” Gomez is depicted wearing a hospital bracelet. Meanwhile, Gomez was photographed nude for the cover of her 2015 album, “Revival.”
Gomez, who had been in the hospital receiving treatment for lupus, wore the bracelet at the direction of photographer Petra Collins.
In her Apple TV+ documentary, “My Mind & Me,” Gomez opened up about spending time in a mental health facility. Ahead of her stay, she canceled her 2016 Revival Tour due to anxiety and depression. Similarly, in “The Idol,” we learn that Jocelyn canceled a world tour following the death of her mother.
Gomez dated The Weeknd in 2017, leading some viewers to speculate that “The Idol” is based on her career. During a press conference at Cannes Film Festival, The Weeknd explained that Jocelyn is partially inspired by the “experiences of other artists that [he’s] witnessed,” but he never mentioned Gomez by name.
Princess of pop
There are a few things viewers instantly recognize about Jocelyn: she’s beautiful, she’s famous and she’s fresh off the heels of a breakdown.
In the first episode, Vanity Fair writer Talia (Hari Nef) visits Jocelyn as she prepares for her comeback. Ahead of their interview, Talia notes the singer’s “referential” choreography, which is later described as “an homage” to Britney Spears. In the same scene, it’s made clear that Jocelyn’s mental breakdown is reminiscent of Spears’ personal struggles.
“What Britney and Jocelyn have gone through is really unique, but ultimately universal,” notes Jocelyn’s publicist, Benjamin (Dan Levy).
We later learn that Jocelyn, like Spears and Gomez, began her career as a child star. Spears got her big break on “The Mickey Mouse Club,” while Gomez became a household name after starring in “Wizards of Waverly Place.”
It’s also been speculated that Spears had some involvement with “The Idol.” In a 2021 Instagram post, she mentioned filming a movie with the same title, though it’s unclear whether she’s actually referencing the HBO show. Additionally, Spears was photographed with Levinson and The Weeknd in 2022.
“Like a Prayer”
The Queen of Pop, Madonna, is also referenced in “The Idol.” In the pilot, Jocelyn first encounters Tedros during a night out at his club. “Like a Prayer” blasts through the speakers, insinuating Jocelyn’s likeness to Madonna as an edgy pop superstar, as well as the religious nature of Tedros’ cult.
In the third episode, Jocelyn’s friend and creative director, Xander (Troye Sivan) asks Tedros, “When was the last truly nasty, bad pop girl?”
While not a direct reference to Madonna, the line recalls her groundbreaking and often controversial career, including the “Like a Prayer” music video, which saw major backlash from religious groups. Her risqué video for “Justify My Love,” which came out only a year later in 1990, was banned from MTV for its explicit material.
Madonna is involved with “The Idol.” She collaborated with The Weeknd and Playboi Carti on “Popular,” which appears on the show’s soundtrack.
Other inspirations
Depp has revealed that Jocelyn is inspired by a number of other celebrities, ranging from singers to actresses. In an interview with W, the actress revealed that “[She] was also thinking about Beyoncé, Mariah [Carey] and every huge pop star of our time” as the basis for Jocelyn’s character. “I wanted Jocelyn to be the kind of woman who can dominate a room,” Depp continued. “Someone who doesn’t ever shy away from their sparkle.”
While speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Depp also pointed to cinematic inspirations for Jocelyn, including actresses of both old and new Hollywood. “We actually drew from a lot of other influences that are not pop stars,” she explained. “We thought a lot about Sharon Stone in ‘Basic Instinct’ and the Gene Tierneys and Lauren Bacalls.”
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