The relationships depicted involve men and women. Depp’s character is portrayed as an attractive woman, and the film emphasizes this. The opening scene includes a discussion about a nudity clause being imposed on the lead actress by a man who seems overly concerned with appearing progressive, alongside what appears to be a staged photograph. It avoids simplistic portrayals, showing that virtuous characters aren't exclusively people of color while villainous ones aren’t solely straight white men, and it effectively exposes the industry’s unpleasant and exploitative nature. The fact that a woman is presented as an attractive woman seems surprising now. However, if Depp had portrayed an unattractive lesbian, the film would likely be considered "empowering." Ultimately, this is precisely the kind of content cinema needs. We require films and television shows to challenge self-imposed political restrictions. *The Idol* achieves this, and I see it as a positive move forward; we need more media that fights its way through those barriers so we can return to creating genuinely good entertainment. It’s not on par with *Chinatown*, but it represents a shift away from purely political messaging and back towards making films for enjoyment. The more content there is that pushes against this trend, the closer we get to pop culture centered on entertainment once again. Let's be honest: because it criticizes the music industry, people will dislike it. Because Depp’s character is attractive and appears nude, people will dislike it. Because The Weekend engages in heterosexual activity with her, people will dislike it. And because it critiques Hollywood, people will dislike it. Comparisons to *Showgirls* are inaccurate; this film possesses considerably more depth and satirizes a broader range of issues than *Showgirls* ever did. It’s far more critical. If Depp had portrayed a lesbian, and if the film expressed positive sentiments about the music and film industries, it would be lauded. But because it doesn't, because it is politically charged, people feel obligated to condemn it. The truth is that in 2023, we need to reclaim edginess; we need to provoke again.

Source on TMDB