The Weeknd ‘Grateful’ For Season 1 of ‘The Idol’ Despite Criticism

The Weeknd is reflecting on the end of season one of his controversial HBO series, The Idol. Following this Sunday's finale (July 2), the "Creepin'" singer commemorated the episode via Instagram with a series of behind-the-scenes photos of the cast on set. He wrote in the caption: "Grateful to share this moment with you all as the season comes to an end. Continue to push the vision no matter how bumpy the journey." He concluded his post with: "Jocelyn Forever," referencing his co-star Lily-Rose Depp’s character and the finale episode's title.

The series, co-created by Euphoria director Sam Levinson, made headlines for its overtly explicit sex scenes and nudity. Addressing the matter during a Cannes Flim Festival press conference for the series, Depp, 24, defended the show by saying, "I think that something about Jocelyn is just that she's a born and bred performer. I think that extends to every aspect of her life, not just her professional life."

She added that the way she dresses in skimpy clothing is her character's way of expressing herself "in some kind of way. And I also think that the occasional bareness of the character physically mirrors the bareness that we get to see emotionally in her." Levinson also defended the series, saying, "It's funny, I think that sometimes things that might be revolutionary are taken too far. I think we live in a very sexualized world."

Speaking to ELLE last November, Lily-Rose claimed she wasn't "interested in making anything puritanical." She continued, "I'm not interested in making anything that doesn't challenge me or challenge other people, honestly. I think this show is fearless, and that's something that I've been really excited and proud to dive into." Lily-Rose thanked fans on Instagram as well following the show's finale for "watching, listening, laughing & crying with us."

The actress added that Levinson and Tesfaye made her feel "incredibly safe and protected" on set while filming intimate scenes. She said The Weeknd is "a really good friend who's had my back," she shared at the time. "We've gone on this wild ride together. It was a first for both of us in a lot of ways."

Season 1 of The Idol is now streaming on Max.