‘The Idol’ Actress Criticizes “Liberal Media” and Tells Feminists to “Go F*ck Yourself”

After getting slaughtered by critics, Sam Levinson’s “The Idol” went out in a blaze of glory on HBO this past Sunday night.

I’ve already written about the reception this controversial series has gotten. I won’t elaborate further except to mention that one of its actors, Jane Adams, who plays record label exec Nikki Katz, told Vanity Fair that the backlash over the show is unwarranted.

Adams says that we live in a time where liking subversive but controversial art like “The Idol” must also come with an apology.

These days, to certain people, you almost have to apologize when you dislike something or you love something

Adams was also in Todd Solondz’s 1998 masterpiece, “Happiness,” a controversial indie that riled up the conservative press, but was praised by critics as one of the best films from that year. The actress says that a lot has changed since then and that the tables have somewhat been switched:

You couldn’t even make that movie today. [There were] lines around the block in New York when it was still theaters, and the whole town talked about it. But that was when the liberal press celebrated things that upset people.

Adams admits that it’s “sad” how it’s now self-proclaimed liberals who criticize art: “People in that world, some of them, have turned into the scolding schoolmarms that I wanted to be an actress to get away from.”

She goes on to say, “what is amazing to me is no one’s listening – I’ve not seen that before in all my days, such a dogged ‘We refuse to change the narrative,’” Adams said. “I especially want to say to all the feminists, ‘Go fuck yourself.’ All these women that I’m working with are talking about their experience and you’re not listening. You’re not listening!”

Don’t get me wrong, you don’t have to “like” Levinson’s “The Idol.” I’ve never stated that it’s a perfect show. I found it to be well-directed, self-indulgent, nihilist, and vibrantly over-the-top, but I do understand how it could turn some people off.

What I find wrong are the weird takes that some critics have of this show, insisting that it exploits women via the lens of a cis white male. It was even criticized for “setting back the feminist movement.” I mean, give me a break.

Now, everything is being placed under a microscope of scrutiny. Art is no longer a utopia of provocative, button-pushing films, but, rather, too many filmmakers are now desperately trying to avoid controversy.

This idea that “we can't upset anybody” is leading to some very strange shifts in artistic expression. Self censorship is a thing. Fear of backlash leads to this outcome.

It used to be a badge of honor for a director to have their film embroiled in controversy, sparking lively debate about the work and promoting freedom of speech in the process. Today, nobody wants to even come close to that territory. They fear, rather than try to be feared. That’s where we’re at.

Watching Levinson swing for the fences and not give a damn what people thought of his creation was wildly exciting to behold. “The Idol” was definitely, at times, flawed storytelling, but it never made any artistic concessions either and that’s enough reason to celebrate its existence.