Featured Image Credit: LANDMARK MEDIA / Sipa US / Alamy Stock Photo
Topics: Celebrity, Music, The Weeknd, Twitter, Social Media
Rhiannon Ingle
Topics: Celebrity, Music, The Weeknd, Twitter, Social Media
The Weeknd is now going by his legal name on Twitter and it has sent the internet into a complete frenzy.
The 33-year-old Canadian singer has long-since made a brand out of his distinctive stage alias but it seems that's all changing now as he enters a brand-new era of his career.
The name change, also amended on his Instagram account too, has since caused a storm across social media.
Advert
The award-winning singer, best known for smash-hits like 'Starboy' and 'Blinding Lights', seems to be going through somewhat of a rebrand after over a decade performing under the name, The Weeknd.
He first broke into the music scene with the 2011 mixtape 'House of Balloons' and has since gone on to work with a whole plethora of fellow stars including the likes of Drake, Ariana Grande and Wiz Khalifa.
But, after 12 years it seems the hit-maker is ready for a change and has decided to kill his stage name in favour of his OG identity.
And the new name?
Abel Tesfaye.
While Abel is clearly onboard with the switch in modes of address - it seems like his fans aren't too sure about it.
The news has since made its rounds on Twitter where people rushed to share their verdict on the 'Save Your Tears' star's choice.
One Twitter user penned: "Always gone be The Weeknd to me."
A second commented: "We’re still calling him The Weeknd."
"I don't know him like that," wrote a third.
A fourth fan echoed: "He’s still gonna be known as The Weeknd."
"His name is his brand itself," pointed out a fifth.
Another declared: "No one calling him that," while a seventh chimed in with: "Lets be real, nobody is gonna call him that."
"Watch him flop after this," claimed a final disgruntled Twitter user.
Some, however, were more supportive of the rebrand.
"Good luck to Abel Tesfaye we hope he has a successful career like The Weeknd," posted one Twitter user.
A third added: "Had every opportunity to be THE WEEKDAY."
"Anything but The Weekday," joked another.
A final Twitter user wrote: "Going to miss The Weeknd :( but I'm excited for Abel."
Us too.
The news follows Abel's latest project teaming up with Lily-Rose Depp to star in the brand-new HBO drama series The Idol.
Abel will be joined by a star-studded cast including singer Troye Sivan and Bodies Bodies Bodies actor Rachel Sennott.
Not only acting in the series, Abel has shown off his talents away from the mic having also co-created the show alongside Reza Fahim and Euphoria's Sam Levinson.
The Idol is set to hit our screens next month (4 June).