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The Weeknd<\/strong><\/a> has insisted \u2018The Idol<\/a>\u2018 sex scenes aren\u2019t meant to be \u201csexy\u201d.<\/p>\n The 33-year-old singer and actor \u2013 whose real name is Abel Tesfaye \u2013 has responded to backlash over the intimate scenes in the second episode of the HBO show, with fans branding the series \u201ctorture porn\u201d.<\/p>\n Asked if the scene in episode two was meant to be \u201covertly sexy\u201d for viewers, he told GQ magazine: \u201cNo. There\u2019s nothing sexy about it. When we use \u2018Basic Instinct\u2019 as a reference, we\u2019re using Verhoeven.<\/p>\n \u201cVerhoeven is the king of \u201890s satire thriller\u2014yes, there\u2019s moments of \u2018sexy\u2019 in his films but there are other moments that are very cheesy and hilarious.<\/p>\n \u201cHow ever you\u2019re feeling watching that scene, whether it\u2019s discomfort, or you feel gross, or you feel embarrassed for the characters.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all those emotions adding up to: This guy is in way over his head, this situation is one where he is not supposed to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the star insisted the idea of not having a \u201cconsistent tone\u201d has been deliberate.<\/p>\n He explained: \u201cWith this show, we love to play with the emotions. We\u2019re puppet-mastering your feelings through the show.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s never a consistent tone, and that\u2019s on purpose. No matter how dark a scene is, you can find the comedy in it.\u201d<\/p>\n