The Weeknd has backtracked on the idea of retiring his stage name.
The Canadian singer known for hits like “Blinding Lights,” “Earned It,” and “Save Your Tears” has teased dropping his moniker for some years now. He has been performing under the Weeknd since 2011.
But it seems the 36-year-old has had a change of heart.
The Weeknd No Longer Wants To Drop His Stage Name
The Grammy winner is clearly rethinking his decision. During his recent “After Hours Til Dawn” tour of Europe, the artist, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, told fans that he almost dropped his moniker.
“I tested retirement a little bit, and I don’t like the way it feels,” He told his concert audience Saturday in Stockholm, per a video posted by a fan. “Imma be here forever with you.”
Fans are hoping this means a new tour of albums will be on its way from the singer.
Why Did The Weeknd Want To Change His Name
In April 2022, The Weeknd first teased the name change. He told fans during an online discussion that he might “pull a Ye,” a reference to Kanye West, who famously shortened his name.
“I feel like I should change my stage name to ABEL at this point lol,” he wrote, adding “maybe pull a YE and just legally change my name to ABEL. No last name. Like Madonna or Cher or Prince.”
By May 2023, he teased that his next album might be his last using the onstage persona.
“The album I’m working on now is probably my last hurrah as the Weeknd,” he told W Magazine. “This is something that I have to do. As the Weeknd, I’ve said everything I can say.”
The singer adamantly said he was going through a “cathartic path” and wanted to “close the Weeknd chapter.”
But fans fear not; he never intended to give up music but just wanted to give up the stage persona which made him famous. He also teased of trying something different, although never specified what.
“I’ll still make music, maybe as Abel, maybe as the Weeknd. But I still want to kill the Weeknd. And I will. Eventually. I’m definitely trying to shed that skin and be reborn,” he told W Magazine back in 2023.
Last year, upon the release of “Hurry Up Tomorrow”, the Weeknd explained to Variety that while he can’t stop making music, he wanted to make a change.
“But everything needs to feel like a challenge. And for me right now, the Weeknd, whatever that is, it’s been mastered. No one’s gonna do the Weeknd better than me, and I’m not gonna do it better than what it is right now.”
