Lily-Rose Depp says 'The Idol' nudity is 'really intentional' and 'really important to me': 'I'm not afraid of it'

Lily-Rose Depp says the nudity on "The Idol" is "really intentional" and that she was never uncomfortable stripping naked on set to film the show's many sex scenes. The HBO series has sparked controversy over the past four weeks due to its graphic content and frequent nudity. Depp is often at the center of the show's riskiest scenes as the show's main character, a pop star named Jocelyn who falls under the control of a sinister nightclub owner (Abel 'The Weeknd' Tesfaye).

"For me, the whole character, the series and its arc was really a collaboration through and through , " Depp recently said. "We know we're doing something provocative and we're not shy about doing it. It's something I knew I wanted to do from the start. I've never been interested in doing anything puritanical. It's okay if this show isn't for everyone and that's okay - I think all the best art is [polarizing]."

"I've never felt so respected and safer on set, honestly," said added Depp. “And I think the trust that we've all built with each other, you and me, and Sam and me, and Abel and me, that can only create a really safe together. So in terms of the nudity and the risque nature of the role, that was really intentional for me. It was really important to me and something I was excited to do. I'm not afraid of it. I think we live in a highly sexualized world. I think it's an interesting thing to explore."

While "The Idol" generated non-stop controversy due to its graphic scenes, its creators continued to point out that pressing buttons is intentional. The show's second episode included a very uncomfortable sex scene between Depp and Tesfaye which he said was meant to make viewers crawl. In the scene, Jocelyn strips for Tesfaye's character on her bed as he unleashes sexually graphic commands.

"There's nothing sexy about that," Tesfaye said. "However, you feel watching this scene, whether it's discomfort, or feeling rude, or feeling embarrassed for the characters. It's all of those emotions that add up: this guy is way over his head, this situation is one where he's not supposed to be here.

"Sex is so greedy," he continued. "Especially in Episode 2. 'Gluttony' is the only word I can think of [to describe him]. [Tedros] can't believe he's here. He comes across as such a loser. Those moments are the humanity you find in a psychopath, the chink in his armour."

"The Idol" airs its season finale July 2 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO. The series also airs on Max.