In the weeks leading up to the Weeknd’s performance at the Super Bowl LV Halftime Show this Sunday, many people commented on the full facial expressions he wore on recent photos and during his performances at the American Music Awards. Variety caught up with the Weeknd this week during a break from Super Bowl practice and asked a few questions about it (his answers appear below), but first a little background:
Back in November 2020, the Weeknd launched its ‘After Hours’ album cycle with a few songs – the smash singles and videos “Blinding Lights” (which Variety‘s Hitmakers Record of the Year) and “Heartless” – which began with the red jacket, broken nose and his bad night-in-Las Vegas storyline that continued through many of his videos, TV and awards shows.
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The Weeknd spoke to Variety about the videos in our cover story in April, but did not reveal much: “This character has a very bad night, and you can come up with your own interpretation of what it is.” That bad night starts with a few too many drinks and a fight, but then the story becomes more surreal, which apparently includes possessing an evil spirit, beheading and more.
And just when the bandage nose looks normal, the Weeknd appears with his face completely wrapped in bandages during his literally explosive appearance at the American Music Awards in November, like a person who has just had plastic surgery – and the ‘Save Your Tears’ – video made it look like that was exactly what happened. However, his new Super Bowl ad, released on Tuesday, shows that he looks completely normal.
The internet has been full of chats, memes and confusion over the past few weeks, with many fans wondering what the connections mean, and whether he will continue the theme at the Super Bowl. What is happening? The Weeknd answers a few – but by no means all of us – questions below.
Your ‘After Hours’ character is becoming more and more connected, with a whole headband at AMAs, and it’s apparently now post-plastic surgery. People have been speculating about this for weeks – what does it symbolize or mean?
The importance of the whole headband reflects the absurd culture of Hollywood celebrities and people who manipulate themselves for superficial reasons to please and affirm it.
Can you give any insight into how the connections fit into the original story of ‘bad night in Las Vegas’?
It’s all progress and we’ve watching the story of The Character reach elevated levels of danger and absurdity as its story unfolds.
What can we take from the fact that you seem to be deliberately making your face unattractive while promoting your biggest album?
I assume you accept that attractiveness is not important to me, but a compelling story.
Sometimes you appear in photos or on TV and videos in character, sometimes not. Why?
Why not play with the character and the artist and let those lines blur and move around?
Are you a character now?
I do not know, I’ll have to ask him.
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Originally published