On March 20, 2020, The Weeknd released his highly anticipated fourth studio album, After Hours.
It was the mark of a new era for the 30-year-old singer. An era that involved a brand new character.
Since After Hours was released, The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, has been seen wearing disturbing makeup at his public appearances.
At the Video Music Awards in August, the singer appeared battered and bruised, sporting a cut lip and two black eyes. The singer also wore similar makeup for his Saturday Night Live performance in March.
Then, at the American Music Awards in November, The Weeknd's "injuries" escalated even further.
During the awards show, the 30-year-old performed two singles from his new album, 'Save Your Tears' and 'In Your Eyes', while wearing full facial bandages.
Now, The Weeknd has unveiled the final step of his transformation. And yes, it involves 'Instagram Face'.
Let us explain.
Wait, why is everyone talking about The Weeknd's face?
On January 5, The Weeknd released the music video for his latest single, 'Save Your Tears'.
In the four-minute video, the Canadian singer dances around a ballroom while looking almost unrecognisable.
Watch a clip from The Weeknd's new music video below. Post continues after video.
After unveiling his bandages, the singer is now sporting a new look involving dramatic prosthetics that mimic the appearance of severe plastic surgery.
The Weeknd's new 'Instagram Face' look includes a crooked nose, plumped cheeks, and dramatically enlarged lips.
It's... a lot to take in.
While some viewers initially believed The Weeknd's transformation was real, makeup artist Mike Marino of Prosthetic Renaissance has confirmed that the look involved prosthetics.
"Check out the weird plastic surgery make up we did for The Weeknd," he wrote on Instagram.
What has The Weeknd said about his transformation?
In recent months, The Weeknd, who is notoriously private, hasn't shared much about his transformation.
In an interview with CR Men last year, the singer explained that he wanted to share a new side of himself amid the release of After Hours.
"I feel confident with where I'm taking this [new] record," he said.
"There's also a very committed vision and character being portrayed and I get to explore a different side of me that my fans have never seen."
But speaking to Variety in the lead up to his Super Bowl Halftime Show performance, the singer has finally explained the meaning behind his transformation.
"The significance of the entire head bandages is reflecting on the absurd culture of Hollywood celebrity and people manipulating themselves for superficial reasons to please and be validated," he explained.
"It’s all a progression and we watch The Character’s storyline hit heightened levels of danger and absurdity as his tale goes on."
In a song from The Weeknd's latest album, 'Escape From LA', the 30-year-old sings that all "LA girls look the same" because they all get "the same work done".
How did the internet react?
After The Weeknd unveiled his 'new look', fans shared their reactions on social media, with many comparing the singer to "Handsome Squidward" - a viral reference to a SpongeBob SquarePants episode in which Squidward undergoes surgery and emerges with a new face.
The Weeknd and Gomez dated for just 10 months. Soon after, the singer was spotted in New York City with Hadid.
The couple officially started dating again in April 2018, before separating in August 2019.
Feature Image: Instagram.
The Weeknd will perform at the Super Bowl Halftime Show on February 8, 2021. The Super Bowl will be broadcast live on Channel Seven from 10.30am AEDT.
This post was originally published on January 9, 2021, and updated with new information on February 5, 2021.
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