On social media, it is reported that Canadian singer Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, known as The Weeknd, had ‘plastic surgery’ to change his face. This is untrue, as photos show the musician wearing prosthetics for a music video.
Examples of posts that think his new look is permanent can be seen here and here.
While some users acknowledge that the images spread on social media show the musician wearing make-up, others seem to think he has undergone surgery. Some remarks include: “Why do we humans continue to mutilate themselves …” and “I’m so upset about this. His mental health demands him and everyone who laughs.
The claim began circulating after the music video ‘Save Your Tears’ premiered on January 5 (seen here on YouTube), where the musician is seen with an exaggerated aesthetic plastic surgery, with fuller lips and more pronounced cheekbones.
Some iterations of this claim contain two images: a screenshot of a tweet by Page Six ( here ) which reads “Bandages are off: The Weeknd’s plastic surgery looks shocking to fans” and a photo posted on his Instagram here on January 5).
The Page Six tweet linked to a New York Post article here says it is unclear whether ‘his disturbing new appearance’ is achieved through prosthetics or CGI (computer-generated images) ‘and it makes it clear to his ‘Save Your Tears’ music video. .
As reported by The Cut here, the prosthetics worn by Tesfaye were developed by Prosthetic Renaissance, which describes itself as ‘an artistic powerhouse of design and makeup effects’ (www.prorenfx.com/about).
On January 5, Prosthetic Renaissance publishes a gallery post on Instagram (here) showing that the look consists of ‘4 prosthetic devices’ and the ‘main face is a collapsible form’.
Previous makeup looks worn by The Weeknd, also created by Prosthetic Renaissance, can be seen here, here and here.
In the music videos from his fourth album After Hours, the Weeknd’s multiple appearance sustained apparent facial injuries (for example, here, here, here). At the 2020 American Music Awards, on November 22, he performed with a bandaged head and bruises around his eyes (here, here).
According to Marie Claire (here is the look in the ‘Save Your Tears’ music video ‘the story progressed by showing his face in what looks like the aftermath of plastic surgery’. But this new look ‘like the others’ is not real – it’s just prosthetics ”.
In a video here that published The Weeknd’s performance of the 2021 Super Bowl halftime show (here), on January 8, the artist is seen without a time stamp around 00:24 without prosthetics. here .
The Weeknd’s representatives and prosthetic renaissance did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
VERDICT
Misleading. Images show The Weeknd wearing prosthetics for the music video “Save Your Tears”.
This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our work to actually check social media posts.