It looks like The Weeknd is considering a Yee-style name change after it revealed plans to drop his surname Tesfaye, and legally change his full name to just Abel.
The "Blinding Lights" singer posted a series of tweets yesterday (April 3), leaving fans teased by the news.
Taking to Twitter, he wrote: "You guys are hilarious. I feel like I should change my stage name to ABEL at this time.
you guys are hilarious. i feel like i should change my stage name to ABEL at this point lol.
— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) April 3, 2022
In another tweet, he thought: "Maybe pull a YE and legally change my name to ABEL. No last name. Like Madonna or Cher or Prince. I don't know if that sounds like a lot."
maybe pull a YE and just legally change my name to ABEL. no last name. Like Madonna or Cher or Prince. I don’t know it seems like a lot.
— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) April 3, 2022
The Weeknd is definitely making reference to Kanye West changing his own name to Yeh — which was announced back in 2018; and made official by a judge last year.
The Grammy winner then contemplated how her name would be spelled, linking it to her former stage name.
ABEL formally known as The Weeknd ?
— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) April 3, 2022
formerly ***** see this is what i’m talking about @Twitter
— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) April 3, 2022
Even John Legend voiced his support for a possible change.
i’m tempted … https://t.co/1aKSsA6Tud
— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) April 3, 2022
His fans also weighed in on the news, with one saying: "Won't you do that."
Another replied: "Yes Abel."
A third wrote: "Bring Ya Back ABELXO," in reference to their Canadian record label, founded back in 2011.
However, some people were not so eager to change the name.
One person replied: "No. The weekend is coveted."
Another agreed, saying: "We love The Weeknd."
Almost a decade ago, The Weeknd revealed how his stage name came about in a Reddit AMA.
He revealed that his album House of Balloons, which was released in 2011, was originally supposed to be called 'The Weeknd'.
However, he "hated [her] name at the time", so decided to take "The Weeknd" as his stage name instead. The A-list singer then had to drop 'E' because there was already a Canadian band operating under that name at the time.
Speaking to GQ last year, The Weeknd explained how he differentiates between his stage name and real name.
"The lines were blurry in the beginning," he said. "And as my career developed - as I grew into a man - it became very clear that Abel is the one I go home to every night. And The Weeknd is who I am at work as I go."
Yesterday, it was announced that The Weeknd won a Grammy for Best Melodic Rap Performance, despite boycotting the ceremony.
The 32-year-old was rewarded for his feature on Yeh's song 'Toofan'.