The Weeknd is opening up about the storm of criticism surrounding his controversial HBO series, . Speaking to in a profile published Friday, January 10, the Grammy-winning artist — born Abel Tesfaye — admitted that while the backlash wasn’t easy to ignore, he chose not to take it to heart. “Of course, it gets to you — I’m not saying I wasn’t affected by it,” he said. “I’m saying I didn’t take it personally. Like, nobody’s out to get you, you know?” The show, which Tesfaye, 34, co-created with Sam Levinson, followed a pop star (played by Lily-Rose Depp) navigating fame and a toxic relationship with Tesfaye’s character, a nightclub owner and cult leader. Though The Idol boasted a high-profile cast and budget, its explicit themes and reported behind-the-scenes turmoil sparked controversy, leading to its cancellation after one season in 2023. Despite the fallout, the hitmaker expressed pride in the series and its team. “We had a great cast and crew,” he shared. “Maybe it could have been told in a different way, maybe not… Not everything you put out is going to connect, and that’s fine.” As Tesfaye moves on from , he’s gearing up for new projects, including his album , out January 24, and a self-written thriller starring Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan. “Some people might hate it, but that’s not why I’m doing this,” he said. “I’m an artist — it’s how I feel, and this is what I want to say.”