The Weeknd says he might 'pull a YE' and publicly debates changing his stage name to ABEL: 'Like Madonna, Cher, or Prince'
The Weeknd publicly debated changing his stage name in a series of tweets that he shared on Sunday.
The 32-year-old performer notably referenced Kanye West's recent name change as he wrote: 'maybe pull a YE and just legally change my name to ABEL.'
The hitmaker, born Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, then noted that his proposed moniker would not feature a 'last name. Like Madonna or Cher or Prince.'
![Mulling it over: The Weeknd publicly debated changing his stage name in a series of tweets that he shared on Sunday; he is seen in 2021](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/04/05/02/56228025-10686247-image-a-48_1649123098080.jpg)
Mulling it over: The Weeknd publicly debated changing his stage name in a series of tweets that he shared on Sunday; he is seen in 2021
The Weeknd began his thread by announcing that he was pondering a potential name change after speaking with his fans.
He wrote: 'You guys are hilarious. i feel like i should change my stage name to ABEL at this point lol.'
The Blinding Lights singer did publicly express doubt about his potential decision, writing: 'I don't know it seems like a lot.'
The performer then wrote that he could possibly be known as 'ABEL formally known as The Weeknd' in the future.
![Following in his footsteps: The 32-year-old performer notably referenced Kanye West's recent name change in one of his tweets](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/04/05/02/56227387-10686247-Following_in_his_footsteps_The_32_year_old_performer_notably_ref-a-7_1649123782337.jpg)
Following in his footsteps: The 32-year-old performer notably referenced Kanye West's recent name change in one of his tweets
![Making it known: The Weeknd began his thread by announcing that he was pondering a potential name change after speaking with his fans](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/04/05/02/56227383-10686247-image-a-38_1649121870579.jpg)
Making it known: The Weeknd began his thread by announcing that he was pondering a potential name change after speaking with his fans
![Big plans: The performer then wrote that he could possibly be known as 'ABEL formally known as The Weeknd' in the future](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/04/05/02/56227385-10686247-image-a-39_1649121880916.jpg)
Big plans: The performer then wrote that he could possibly be known as 'ABEL formally known as The Weeknd' in the future
The Weeknd also responded to the concerns of his fans regarding the changed name, as he wrote: 'Formerly ***** see this is what i'm talking about @Twitter.'
When John Legend commented that the name change would be 'dope,' the songwriter added that he was 'tempted' to go through with it.
The artist previously spoke about his stage name during an interview with GQ, during which he noted that he drew a line between his public persona and real personality.
'The lines were blurry at the beginning. And as my career developed – as I developed as a man – it's become very clear that Abel is someone I go home to every night. And The Weeknd is someone I go to work as,' he said.
![Interactive: The Weeknd also responded to the concerns of his fans regarding the changed name](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/04/05/02/56227381-10686247-image-a-40_1649121888185.jpg)
Interactive: The Weeknd also responded to the concerns of his fans regarding the changed name
![Showing his support: When John Legend commented that the name change would be 'dope,' the songwriter added that he was 'tempted' to go through with it](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/04/05/02/56227389-10686247-Showing_his_support_When_John_Legend_commented_that_the_name_cha-a-42_1649121980527.jpg)
Showing his support: When John Legend commented that the name change would be 'dope,' the songwriter added that he was 'tempted' to go through with it
The performer added: 'Abel can be bada** sometimes, man. But I guess The Weeknd is Hyde. Abel is Dr Jekyll.'
The singer also noted that he had learned how to differentiate between the two sides of his personality as an artist.
'I still like it, but I think now it's easy to take off that coat. I like that I have that as an option to escape Abel a little bit. I definitely loved it more back then than I do now. I love my name now, though,' he stated.
The Weeknd then expressed that his closest fans referred to him by his given name, although he understood the popularity of his stage name.
![Making a distinction: The singer also noted that he had learned how to differentiate between the two sides of his personality as an artist; he is seen in 2021](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/04/05/02/56227891-10686247-Making_a_distinction_The_singer_also_noted_that_he_had_learned_h-a-8_1649123782339.jpg)
Making a distinction: The singer also noted that he had learned how to differentiate between the two sides of his personality as an artist; he is seen in 2021
'My fans don't call me The Weekend. They just call me Abel. It's a tricky thing, but I think the name The Weeknd holds such a legacy right now,' he said.
The performer recently won the Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 64th annual Grammy Awards ceremony, which was held on Sunday.
The singer took home the distinction for his work on West's track Hurricane, which also featured Lil Baby.
Despite winning the award, The Weeknd did not attend the ceremony after having publicly boycotted the Recording Academy in 2021.
![No thanks: Despite winning the award, The Weeknd did not attend the ceremony after having publicly boycotted the Recording Academy in 2021; he is seen at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards in 2016](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/04/05/02/56227895-10686247-image-m-46_1649122870429.jpg)
No thanks: Despite winning the award, The Weeknd did not attend the ceremony after having publicly boycotted the Recording Academy in 2021; he is seen at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards in 2016
He made the bold decision in response to the snubbing of his 2020 album, Blinding Lights.
The artist previously spoke to The New York Times and elaborated on his choice to skip out on any future awards or ceremonies bestowed or held by the Academy.
'Because of the secret committees, I will no longer allow my label to submit my music to the Grammys,' he said.
The Recording Academy's CEO, Harvey Mason Jr, released a statement at the time to express his disappointment over the decision.
![Not happy: He made the bold decision in response to the snubbing of his 2020 album, Blinding Lights](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/04/05/02/56227897-10686247-Not_happy_He_made_the_bold_decision_in_response_to_the_snubbing_-a-9_1649123782340.jpg)
Not happy: He made the bold decision in response to the snubbing of his 2020 album, Blinding Lights
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