Abel Tesfaye may not be ready to lay “The Weeknd” to rest after all. Following years of persistent hints that his upcoming album Hurry Up Tomorrow would mark the definitive end of his iconic stage persona, the global superstar appears to have had a major change of heart during his recent concert in Stockholm, Sweden.
Performing at the Strawberry Arena as part of his ongoing After Hours Til Dawn tour, Tesfaye addressed the crowd with an emotional admission that directly contradicted his previous statements about retiring his alter ego.
During the August 8 tour stop in Stockholm, Tesfaye paused his performance to speak candidly to thousands of cheering fans. Fan-recorded videos captured the singer admitting that stepping back from his music and persona gave him a taste of what life without it would be like, and he didn’t enjoy it.
“I’ll never disappear. I love this too much to ever disappear,” Tesfaye told the arena crowd. “I tested retirement a little bit, and I don’t like the way it feels. Imma be here forever with you.”
The statement represents a significant pivot from comments Tesfaye made over the past two years, where he repeatedly framed his current album trilogy, spanning After Hours, Dawn FM, and Hurry Up Tomorrow as the final chapter for “The Weeknd” persona before transitioning solely to his given name, Abel Tesfaye.
In prior interviews, Tesfaye described feeling trapped by the competitive “rat race” of maintaining an alter ego, hinting that he had said everything he could possibly say under the moniker. However, his onstage comments in Sweden suggest that the energy of performing live and connecting with audiences has reignited his desire to keep the stage name alive.
Rather than “killing off” the character as previously discussed, Tesfaye’s comments point toward a creative rebirth that allows the persona to evolve alongside his growth as an artist. While details regarding his long-term release plans remain fluid, fans can rest assured that Abel Tesfaye and “The Weeknd”, isn’t stepping away from the spotlight anytime soon.
