Intimacy coordinator Marci Liroff felt betrayed by HBO after a controversial scene in its series “The Idol” showed a fictional intimacy coordinator being locked in a bathroom while an actress bared her nipples. Liroff, who has no connection to the show, criticized HBO for making fun of her profession and using it as the butt of a joke. “The Idol” has faced backlash for its excessive nudity and graphic sex scenes, and its future as a limited series remains uncertain.
Intimacy coordinator Marci Liroff feels betrayed by HBO after watching a scene from “The Idol” that she believes mocks her profession.
Title: HBO’s “The Idol” Controversy: Intimacy Coordinator Feels “Betrayed”
Introduction:
Marci Liroff, a prominent intimacy coordinator in the industry, recently expressed her dismay and sense of betrayal after watching a provocative scene from HBO’s controversial series, “The Idol.” In an interview with Variety, Liroff disclosed her visceral reaction, feeling appalled by the portrayal of an intimacy coordinator being locked in the bathroom while the main character, played by Lily-Rose Depp, bared her nipples during an album cover shoot. This incident has stirred controversy due to the role of intimacy coordinators and HBO’s previous adherence to best practices.
HBO’s Treatment of Intimacy Coordinators:
Liroff emphasized the significance of HBO’s groundbreaking decision to hire Alicia Rodis as an intimacy coordinator for their series “The Deuce” in 2018. This move led to a new industry standard, with HBO mandating the employment of intimacy coordinators on all projects involving sexually intimate scenes. Liroff praised their commitment to raising the bar and highlighted the subsequent adoption of this practice by other networks and streaming platforms. Therefore, Liroff’s disappointment in HBO’s portrayal of an intimacy coordinator in “The Idol” stems from her perception that the network was mocking their profession, rather than appreciating its importance.
Critics Slamming “The Idol”:
Even before its debut, “The Idol” faced severe criticism regarding its explicit nudity and graphic sex scenes. Rolling Stone labeled it a “rape fantasy,” while British GQ described one of its episodes as featuring the “worst sex scene in history.” The show’s provocative content has failed to impress viewers and critics alike, leading to a decline in viewership after its premiere episode.
Uncertain Future for “The Idol”:
As backlash mounts against the series, the future of “The Idol” remains uncertain. According to an inside source, the show was initially intended as a limited series and may not continue beyond that. However, HBO insiders have indicated that a final decision has not been made, suggesting that the fate of the show is still up in the air. The ongoing controversy surrounding the series, combined with the declining viewership, has added further uncertainty to its future prospects.
Conclusion:
The inclusion of a controversial scene in “The Idol” has left Marci Liroff feeling betrayed by HBO, prompting a larger conversation about the role and treatment of intimacy coordinators in the industry. As criticism mounts against the show’s explicit content and declining viewership, the future of “The Idol” hangs in the balance. Only time will tell whether HBO will address the concerns raised by Liroff and other critics, and how they will navigate the complex issues surrounding intimate scenes within their productions moving forward.