Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, better known by his stage name “The Weeknd,” is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and record producer who has gained immense popularity and success in the music industry. His career has been marked by both controversy and acclaim. Below are some of the controversial aspects of his life and career:
Early Lyrics and Themes: The Weeknd, gained significant attention with his mixtape “House of Balloons,” which was released in 2011. The mixtape featured explicit lyrics and themes that revolved around drug use, promiscuity, and hedonism. Drug use was a prominent theme in The Weeknd’s early music. He often sang about the use of drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy, describing the highs and lows of these experiences. Promiscuity and themes related to casual sexual encounters were also prevalent in his lyrics. He sang about fleeting and often dysfunctional relationships, exploring the emotional and psychological aspects of such encounters. Critics argued that his songs romanticized a lifestyle that could have harmful consequences.
Allegations of Misogyny: The Weeknd has faced criticism for some of the themes and lyrics in his music. Some critics and listeners have accused him of promoting misogyny and objectification of women through his songs. In some songs, The Weeknd’s lyrics depict women as objects of desire and sometimes as disposable. This criticism largely centers around his earlier work, particularly in mixtapes like “House of Balloons” and “Thursday.” The Weeknd himself has addressed some of these criticisms, stating that his earlier music was reflective of a dark period in his life and that he has since grown as an artist and as a person. He has also mentioned that he doesn’t endorse the behaviors described in some of his songs.
Altercation with Police: In January 2015, The Weeknd got into trouble in Las Vegas. He was arrested because it was believed he hit a police officer on the head. This happened at the Cromwell Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, where the police were trying to stop a fight.
The Weeknd was taken to jail at the Clark County Detention Center, but he was let out on bail the next day. He was charged with one count of a minor crime called “battery of a protected person.” However, the charges were later dropped when The Weeknd agreed to take an anger management class and do 50 hours of community service.
Feud with the Grammy Awards: Despite the immense success of his album “After Hours” and its hit singles, such as “Blinding Lights,” The Weeknd was noticeably absent from the list of Grammy nominations for the 2021 awards ceremony. This exclusion was surprising to many, given the widespread acclaim and commercial success of his work that year. The Weeknd took to social media to express his disappointment and frustration. He accused the Recording Academy, which oversees the Grammy Awards, of corruption and unfairness in the nomination process. He claimed that the system was “rigged” and that there were conflicts of interest at play.
The Weeknd’s public criticism of the Grammys garnered significant support from his fans and many fellow artists in the music industry. Several artists expressed their solidarity with him and criticized the Grammy Awards for their perceived lack of transparency and fairness.
Breakup with Selena Gomez: The Weeknd’s relationship with singer Selena Gomez in 2017 was a highly publicized and scrutinized celebrity romance. Both artists were at the peak of their careers at the time, and their union took many by surprise. Their relationship initially attracted media attention for its unexpected nature, as both The Weeknd and Selena Gomez had previously been linked to other high-profile celebrities.
However, the attention on their relationship reached its peak when they decided to part ways after about 10 months together. Their breakup fueled even more media speculation and controversy, with various reports and rumors circulating about the reasons behind their split.
