The 6 signs that The Idol might actually be all about Selena Gomez.

There's a conspiracy that's taken over the internet in a matter of hours, and it has everything to do with The Idol and Selena Gomez. 

Following the release of the controversial HBO limited series, co-created by Abel 'The Weeknd' Tesfaye, viewers have noticed suspicious connections between the main character Jocelyn, played by Lily Rose Depp and real-life popstar (and The Weekend's ex), Gomez. 

The Weeknd's co-creator Sam Levinson has said The Idol is not based on "any particular pop star", but at the show's Cannes FilmF estival premiere, The Weeknd did say Jocelyn was inspired by "experiences of other artists that [he's] witnessed".

Gomez and The Weeknd dated for 10 months in 2017, two months after his split from on-off girlfriend Bella Hadid and soon after Gomez's split from Justin Bieber. 

Watch the trailer for The Idol. Ppst continues below. 

Here are six reasons why the internet is convinced The Idol is highly inspired by Selena Gomez.

A cancelled tour. 

Before the timeline of The Idol, Jocelyn has a "mental breakdown" following the death of her mother that results in the cancellation of her stadium tours. 

In 2016, Gomez announced she was cancelling her Revival tour because of mental health concerns. 

Selena Gomez during her Revival Tour, 2016. Image: Getty.

"I've discovered that anxiety, panic attacks and depression can be side effects of lupus, which can present their own challenges," the 'Rare' singer told People at the time. 

"I want to be proactive and focus on maintaining my health and happiness and have decided that the best way forward is to take some time off."

A topless photoshoot. 

In the very first episode of the HBO series, Jocelyn slides off her nightgown during the photo shoot for her next album cover.

Whilst it wasn't an exact replica for the past album covers of Gomez, she did pose nude for her 2015, Revival. 

Jocelyn in The Idol. Image: HBO.

In 2022, she admitted that she felt like she was forced to feel "ashamed" of the photoshoot looking back. 

"It's really unfair," Gomez said at The Hollywood Reporter's Comedy Actress Roundtable. 

"I actually did an album cover and I was really ashamed after I did it."

In saying that, many pop idols have posed naked, or topless, for their album covers and magazines so it's not exactly cold, hard proof.

Selena Gomez Revival album cover. Image: Twitter.

A childhood TV show. 

Just like many A-listers today, Jocelyn followed the child star to pop idol pipeline in The Idol. 

Before Gomez had a budding music career and a starring role in Only Murders In The Building, she rose to fame for her roles in Barney & Friends and Wizards Of Waverly Place.

Selena Gomez in Wizards of Waverly Place. Image: Disney.

Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, Ariana Grande and Christina Aguilera had a similar career trajectory.

A hospital bracelet. 

In the series’ first episode, Jocelyn poses for her album’s cover wearing a hospital wristband, leftover from her stint in a mental hospital.

After this scene aired, fans were quick to remember that Gomez posed wearing a hospital bracelet while promoting her song 'Bad Liar' in 2017. Gomez's bracelet, however, was due to her seeking treatment for Lupus, a condition she has been open and honest about.

Selena Gomez wore a bracelet in her music video for 'Bad Liar'. Image: Instagram @petrafcollins.

A traumatic experience. 

The entire premise of The Idol is that Jocelyn is recovering (or rather, regressing) after the death of her abusive mother who passed away from cancer. The relationship she shared with her mum was complicated and therefore hard for Jocelyn to reconcile with. 

Whilst Gomez has not had a similar struggle (and has actually spoken about her deep respect and admiration for both of her parents), the singer suffers from her Lupus diagnosis, which she spoke openly about for the first time in 2013. 

Selena Gomez has been open about her Lupus diagnosis and in 2017, she revealed she had a kidney transplant. Image: Instagram @selenagomez.

Lupus is an autoimmune condition that causes chronic inflammation in many parts of the body, like the skin, joints, heart, kidneys and lungs. 

The mental health consequences on Gomez were extreme, which is why fans are linking Jocelyn's traumatic experience with the singer's own. 

"I was diagnosed with lupus, and I've been through chemotherapy. That's what my break was really about. I could’ve had a stroke," Gomez told Billboard magazine at the time. 

A close relationship with their assistant. 

Oddly enough, there's a glaring similarly between Gomez and Jocelyn in The Idol that has convinced fans the 'The Heart Wants What It Wants' singer is the inspiration behind the TV show. 

Both the singer and character collaborated with their assistant, who also is their close friend, on side projects. 

@pattypopculture The 7 BIGGEST clues #TheIdol ♬ original sound - Patty

In The Idol, Jocelyn and her PA Leia work together on a makeup line. 

In real life, Gomez and her PA Theresa Mingus collaborated on Mingus' swimwear brand, La'Mariette.

The Idol streams on Binge in Australia.

Feature Image: HBO/Getty.