The Weeknd says that he purposely set out to make viewers as “disgusted” as possible with his “The Idol” character Tedros

The Weeknd says that he purposely set out to make viewers as “disgusted” as possible with his “The Idol” character Tedros:

“I wanted to make sure we felt so disgusted by this character. When you think about real-life scumbags, especially brainwashing cult leader types like him, there are so many directions you can go,” he said in an interview with Complex.

“However you’re feeling watching that scene, whether it’s discomfort, or you feel gross, or you feel embarrassed for the characters. It’s all those emotions adding up to: this guy is in way over his head, this situation is one where he is not supposed to be here.”

The scene in question features Tedros in an uncomfortably hot and heavy moment with struggling pop star Jocelyn, played by Lily-Rose Depp.

In the weeks leading up to the Weeknd’s performance at the Super Bowl LV Halftime Show this Sunday, many people have commented on the full-face bandages he’s worn in recent photos and during his performance on the American Music Awards. Variety caught up with the Weeknd this week during a break from Super Bowl rehearsals and asked a few questions about them (his answers appear below), but first, a little backstory:

Back in November of 2019, the Weeknd launched his “After Hours” album cycle with a pair of songs — the smash singles and videos “Blinding Lights” (which was Variety‘s Hitmakers Record of the Year) and “Heartless” — that began the red-jacketed, busted-nose character and his bad-night-in-Las-Vegas storyline that has continued through many of his videos, TV and awards show appearances.

The “Blinding Lights” singer contended that the sex scene is portrayed in such a “gluttonous” way because Tedros, a mysterious club owner, “can’t believe he’s there.”

“You look at him, and this is a score — Jocelyn might be the biggest score he’s ever had. It’s very obvious,” he elaborated. “He’s over-indulging, he walks into this house looking around like, ‘Goddamn, am I way over my head? This can be the biggest job I’ve ever done.’”