This Is What Happened To The Weeknd's Face At The VMAs

Feelings Drama

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00:00The Weeknd is an artist like no other, for better or worse.

00:04Born Abel Tesfaye, the brooding Canadian singer gained attention from critics and the music

00:09industry for his debut trio of mixtapes, which he re-released in 2012 as the Packaged Trilogy.

00:14Then, in 2015, he broke into the mainstream like a gust of risque wind with the BDSM-tinged

00:20single Earned It.

00:22Though written for the movie Fifty Shades of Grey, the song perhaps outshined the film,

00:26spending 29 weeks on the music charts and earning itself an Oscar nomination.

00:31From there, the smooth-voiced Tesfaye kept the momentum rolling with mega-hits like Can't

00:36Feel My Face and The Hills.

00:38But The Weeknd is as adept at hitmaking as he is at keeping fans on their toes.

00:43He released a surprise collaboration with the comparatively upbeat Daft Punk in 2016, made

00:48an appearance as an actor, playing himself in 2019's Uncut Gems, and in 2020 pulled perhaps

00:55his most unexpected move by completely changing his look in a drastic, dramatic way.

01:01For his fourth album, After Hours, which got released in March 2020, The Weeknd emerged

01:06looking… different.

01:07On the album art, in live performances, and in music videos, Tesfaye wore bloody makeup,

01:13nose bandages, and fake bruises — telltale signs of a hard night out partying in a cruel

01:18and lonely city.

01:19As one fan tweeted,

01:20The Weeknd has been walking around with blood on his face for like three months now, lol.

01:25The artist was spotted in the same costume throughout the summer, and media outlets and

01:29fans correctly guessed that Tesfaye was planning to don the same bruised, red suit and gloved

01:34look for the MTV Video Music Awards on August 30th.

01:38Ahead of the ceremony, Just Jared predicted he'd been spotted out and about in the look because

01:42he'd been prepping for his performance.

01:44He seemingly hadn't gone outside without the signature outfit during his entire stay in

01:48New York City.

01:50Up for a total of six awards, it was a big night for The Weeknd, who ultimately took home

01:54two trophies, including Video of the Year.

01:57In an August 2020 interview with Esquire, The Weeknd said that his song, Blinding Lights,

02:02the lead single from After Hours, touches on drunk driving, which might explain why he looks

02:07so battered while promoting the song and the album it comes from.

02:10Aside from the bruising, the outfit also seems to evoke Michael Jackson's iconic thriller

02:15look.

02:15Elaborating on the theme, the singer explained to Esquire,

02:18"...Blinding Lights is about how you want to see someone at night, and you're intoxicated,

02:23and you're driving to this person, and you're just blinded by street lights.

02:27But nothing could stop you from trying to go see that person, because you're so lonely.

02:32I don't want to ever promote drunk driving, but that's what the dark undertone is."

02:36Motives for the look aside, The Weeknd's performance definitely delivered.

02:41True to form, The Weeknd appeared in his new bruised persona as he ignited the 2020 MTV Video

02:46Music Awards.

02:48Tess Faye kicked off this year's awards show singing Blinding Lights live from the observation

02:52deck at Hudson Yards in New York City.

02:55According to People, while the performance started with the mysterious singer shrouded in

02:59darkness, seemingly unconscious, he quickly rose up and delivered an electrifying rendition

03:04of his propulsive hit single.

03:06And then, speaking of blinding lights, a massive pyrotechnics display erupted as the singer

03:11hit some final high notes, while a helicopter followed him around the top of the building.

03:16According to Page Six, the singer was indeed pre-taping parts of the performance in New

03:20York City all week, and as the electrifying end result proved, his dedication to his eye-grabbing

03:25look, while jarring, was worth it.

03:28The Weeknd last performed at the VMAs in 2015, when he debuted his hit Can't Feel My Face,

03:34a performance that had Kanye West grinning ear-to-ear from his seat in the stands.

03:39Us Weekly reported The Weeknd was also supposed to perform at the 2017 ceremony, but ended up

03:44not showing up due to touring fatigue.

03:47We're glad he made it this year, as his performance, and shocking bloody look, will not soon be forgotten.

03:53Check out one of our newest videos right here!

03:55Plus, even more Nicki Swift videos about your favorite musicians are coming soon.

03:59Subscribe to our YouTube channel and hit the bell so you don't miss a single one.

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