The Weeknd has commented on the "bumpy run" of his much-talked-about TV series 'The Idol', which ended after five episodes - instead of the planned six.
The Canadian artist, who starred, co-created and produced the HBO drama series, celebrated the completion of the first season of "The Idol" with a post on social media.
"The end. I'm grateful to share this moment with all of you as the season comes to a close,” she wrote, posting behind-the-scenes photos of the show.
"Keep chasing your vision, no matter how bumpy the road is," he added, apparently referring to the challenges "The Idol" faced during production and the backlash that erupted for the series.
In the finale of "The Idol," pop star Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) gets revenge on shady nightclub owner and self-help guru Tedros (The Weeknd), who tries to control her life and career.
Despite only airing for five episodes, "The Idol" was heavily criticized for its extreme sex scenes and controversial storyline.
"We know we're doing something provocative and we don't shy away from it. This is something I knew I was aiming to do from the beginning," said Lily-Rose Depp in a recent interview with Vogue Australia.
“I was never interested in doing anything puritanical. It's okay if this series isn't for everyone and that's okay – I think the best art is divisive,” he continued.
For his part, The Weeknd stated that he expected the negative reviews and noted that he was not bothered, noting that "The Idol" is "educational" in nature.
"It's almost educational, because that's what happens when you're incredibly famous," he told Variety of "The Idol," which delved into the dark backstage of the music industry.
“You surround yourself with people whose true intentions you're not sure of, even if they seem to be good. You never know,” he said.
"But of course, I'm very lucky to have people around me that I've known almost my whole life, which is important and a gift," added The Weeknd.