The Idol is the hottest TV series right now, and many fans can’t help but notice that the troubled life of the HBO show’s protagonist, Jocelyn, resembles pretty much what Britney Spears went through over the years. If you’re wondering whether The Idol is a true story, here’s what you need to know about the connection between The Idol and Britney Spears.
Is The Idol a true story based on Britney Spears?
The Idol isn’t a true story inspired by Britney Spears’ life.
While the show follows a blonde pop singer (Lily-Rose Depp) going through a mental breakdown, The Idol showrunner and director Sam Levinson denied on different occasions that the story takes any inspiration from what happened to Britney Spears. Still, the series directly references Spears in different ways. In addition to the trailer featuring Spears’ 2007 hit “Gimme More,” her name comes up in the series premiere.
During the press conference following The Idol’s premiere at Cannes, Levinson clarified that they were not explicitly telling Spears’ story but exploring the pressures and perceptions surrounding a pop star. The director mentioned that the reference to Spears in the pilot episode was more about publicists trying to spin narratives and generate positive press. Levinson added they drew inspiration from various influences, including pop culture figures like Sharon Stone, as well as powerful women in different fields.
Levinson also stated that fame can corrupt and that it is easy for pop stars to surround themselves with people who constantly prop them up and ignore any negative aspects. Plus, questionable characters like Tedros (Abel Tesfaye, a.k.a. The Weekend) are always around the corner.
Britney Spears rose to fame in the late 1990s as a pop singer and entertainer. As a very popular artist from a young age, her personal life became the subject of intense media scrutiny and paparazzi attention. Spears faced significant personal and legal challenges in her life, including a strict conservatorship from 2008 to 2021.
