The Weeknd Appears to Do About-Face on Retiring Stage Name: ‘Imma Be Here Forever With You’
The artist born Abel Tesfaye said in 2025 that he'd "mastered" his alter ego and needed a new challenge.
Abel Tesfaye, known professionally as The Weeknd, has reportedly reconsidered his plans to retire his stage persona. In a recent interview, the singer revealed he had a change of heart regarding the decision he made last year. Tesfaye explained that the persona has become a "rat race" filled with more accolades, success, shows, albums, awards, and No. 1s, and he felt he no longer had the desire to continue.
Although he initially planned to retire The Weeknd after completing his commitments for the Hurry Up Tomorrow album, he admitted he tested retirement and didn't enjoy the experience. Tesfaye stated that while he doesn't think he can stop making music entirely, he needed a change, and The Weeknd had become mastered. The idea to potentially wind down the persona came after a challenging performance in 2022 where he lost his voice during the show.
Tesfaye expressed excitement about an upcoming film project, which he believes presents a new challenge for him. The After Hours Til Dawn tour, featuring three shows in Stockholm, continues on Monday night at Strawberry Arena.
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