The Weeknd hints at shedding stage name, embracing Abel Tesfaye identity

Canadian singer-songwriter Abel Tesfaye, widely known as The Weeknd, seems to be taking steps to revert to his birth name after achieving worldwide fame under his stage name reported Bangkok Post. The artist recently changed his display name on social media platforms Twitter and Instagram, although his handles on both sites remained @theweeknd.

This change comes after Tesfaye’s remarks in W Magazine, where he expressed his desire to “kill The Weeknd.” He said…

“I’m going through a cathartic path right now. It’s getting to a place and a time when I’m getting ready to close the Weeknd chapter.

“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.”

Tesfaye also mentioned that the album he is currently working on “is probably my last hurrah as The Weeknd.” He added…

“This is something that I have to do. As The Weeknd, I’ve said everything I can say.”

The 33 year old musician is set to appear alongside Lily-Rose Depp in the upcoming HBO series “The Idol,” which is scheduled to premiere next month.

Tesfaye, born to Ethiopian parents in Canada, gained popularity through his unique brand of dark R&B music, amassing a strong fan base on YouTube over a decade ago. He later became the first artist to achieve more than 100 million monthly listeners on Spotify.