HBO Left Intimacy Coordinator Feeling ‘Betrayed’ Regarding ‘the Idol’ Scene

• “The Idol,” starring Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd, premiered on HBO in June.
• During the pilot episode, an intimate scene coordinator was locked in a bathroom, which caused controversy.
• In an interview with Variety, the coordinator expressed feeling betrayed and appalled by the scene.

An intimacy coordinator working on HBO’s “The Idol” expressed feeling betrayed after the controversial pilot episode of the highly-anticipated series. Marci Liroff, a well-known intimacy coordinator who has worked on shows like “Hightown,” shared her perspective in an interview with Variety. The episode featured a scene where a struggling pop star’s robe slips, revealing a nipple during a photoshoot. The coordinator intervened and the manager subsequently locks the coordinator in a bathroom, causing an uproar.

Liroff described her reaction to the scene as “appalled” and expressed her disappointment with HBO, which had previously made it mandatory to hire intimacy coordinators for projects featuring sexually intimate scenes. She felt that the scene mocked the importance of their role and undermined their efforts to set a standard in the entertainment industry.

Liroff also acknowledged that some directors and producers may not fully understand the roles and responsibilities of intimacy coordinators, comparing their position to that of a stunt coordinator. She emphasized the complexity of their job and expressed her hope for greater appreciation and respect.

Since its premiere, “The Idol” has faced criticism for its explicit sex scenes, being labeled as a “sordid male fantasy” by some critics. The second episode, in particular, received negative feedback for an intimate scene described as “the worst sex scene in history.” The Weeknd, one of the stars of the show, defended the scene, stating that it was meant to evoke discomfort and convey the character’s lack of control in the situation.