WTF happened to The Weeknd’s face at the 2020 VMAs?
The Weeknd, a.k.a. Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, has often changed up his style & look since his popularity has risen. However, his recent appearance at the VMAs (Video Music Awards) raised a couple of eyebrows from viewers.
During a performance of his hit single “Blinding Lights”, The Weeknd appeared with a broken nose, two black eyes, and a bloody face. You may think the singer belonged in the emergency room instead of a rooftop stage – but it was all the effect of horror movie-style makeup.
The Weeknd’s new look
Viewers unaware of The Weeknd may have been shocked, but fans have been exposed to this new style for a good while now. In the music video for The Weeknd’s “Heartless,” he donned the same style of afro and red sports jacket.
As he debuted new singles, The Weeknd’s appearance gained the injured face in both the “Blinding Lights” music video and a short film for “After Hours”. The cover for his latest album “After Hours” also features The Weeknd’s new beat-up look, with a crazy and chaotic smile on his face replete with blood dripping from his mouth.
Previous appearances
This isn’t the first time The Weeknd’s broken nose & two black eyes have appeared live on stage; The Weeknd has donned this same look for performances on Saturday Night Live and Jimmy Kimmel Live!. The new-look plays into the themes & context of “After Hours”.
The “Blinding Lights” music video features The Weeknd going down a road of debauchery involving fistfights & drugs – one explanation for the bloody face. The “After Hours” short film follows The Weeknd with a broken nose and bloodied face walking around a city at night looking pained with horror & sadness, suggesting the regretful aftermath of poor decisions.
Bruises bring in success
Much of The Weeknd’s songs involve heartbreak, excessive drug use, and partying, so this persona maybe The Weeknd’s way of showing the aftereffects of some of the decisions that he has made. Either way, this persona is a performance being done by The Weeknd that ties into his recent music.
The Weeknd is finding success with this look: his video for “Blinding Lights” won both Best R&B Video as well as Video of the Year, the most esteemed award of the ceremony. The Weeknd still had on his gory, bruised makeup while accepting the award, showing The Weeknd’s commitment to the recent character.
It isn’t clear whether The Weeknd will continue with this controversial fashion choice as The Weeknd’s musical career progresses. Either way, The Weeknd has made a unique choice with his style that allows him to stand out among the rest of his musical peers.
