TV Critics Pan Max’s “The Idol” Calling it “Torture Porn,” a “Sordid Male Fantasy”

PTC Warns Parents That Children Can Access TV-MA Content on Max and Calls on the Streamer to Fix Problems Ahead of “The Idol” Premiere

LOS ANGELES (May 31, 2023) – The Parents Television and Media Council (PTC) is calling on Max to ensure children cannot gain access to The Idol ahead of its June 4 premiere, citing TV critics’ reviews of the explicit program, and evidence that Max is inconsistent in preventing children from accessing TV-MA-rated content.

“TV critics have slammed The Idol, citing it as “pornographic,” a “sordid male fantasy,” a “darker, crazier, and more risqué version” of HBO’s Euphoria. Given these reviews, it is clear the program is not appropriate for children and teens, yet Max’s platform is currently enabling children to have access to TV-MA-rated programming. Max must step up and fix the platform before The Idol premieres,” said Melissa Henson, vice president of the Parents Television and Media Council. “We are warning parents about ‘The Idol,’ as it’s likely to appeal to young audiences, but the onus falls on Max to make crucial changes to ensure children cannot have access.”

The day after HBO Max rebranded to Max, a PTC researcher set up a new account on Max using a mobile phone app and created a Kids Profile, which automatically limited the account to G and PG-rated content. However, the researcher was able to switch to an adult account without having to enter a pin code or age verification.

Another PTC researcher, a current Max subscriber, created a new Kids Profile that did not automatically limit the content to G and PG-rated content and enabled the researcher to view TV-MA-rated content on both a web browser and through the app on AppleTV.

The Streamable also reported that Max’s “Kids and Family” section included PG-13 and TV-14 rated content that included nudity, graphic violence, and explicit language.

TV critics have panned the The Idol, saying:

“So, is the series torture porn-y? Yes. A lot.” --The Washington Post

“…’The Idol’ plays like a sordid male fantasy.” --Variety

A “darker, crazier, and more risqué version” of HBO’s Euphoria. --Rolling Stone

“Rarely does a scene go by without the camera showing flashes of her breasts or ass. You start to wonder if this is building to anything, and by episode two it seems likely that it’s probably not.” --The Hollywood Reporter

“…the series was created to gratify the perverted fantasies of both of its creators. As a result, the series did nothing but deliver disturbing content full of sex and violence that serves no purpose other than to shock the audience.” Evie Magazine