The Weeknd Signals End of Persona: "Kill the Weeknd"

Grammy-winning artist The Weeknd, born Abel Tesfaye, has recently signaled a significant shift in his career, expressing a strong intention to retire his stage name. While performing in Stockholm, the Canadian artist conveyed to his fans that he plans to "kill the Weeknd" persona, though he assured them he would continue making music. This revelation follows previous discussions where Tesfaye contemplated a name change, even suggesting he might legally adopt 'Abel' as his sole name, drawing parallels to artists like Cher and Prince.

Tesfaye has been candid about this transitional phase, describing it as a "cathartic path" towards shedding his current identity and being reborn. He indicated in May 2023 that his next album might be his "last hurrah as the Weeknd," as he feels he has "said everything I can say" with the persona. Despite this, he remains committed to music, suggesting future work might emerge under the name Abel. His "After Hours Til Dawn" tour is currently underway in Europe, with dates scheduled through early September.