Many “The Weeknd” fans believed he was going through multiple plastic surgeries throughout 2020 after he showed up to events with his face bruised and covered in bandages. In January of 2021, The Weeknd showed the appalling result of his plastic surgeries, which altered his face’s structure so much that his cheekbones and lips were played out way too much. Even his head looked triangular. But during a Variety interview a few days before the Super Bowl, he revealed he never changed his face at all: he was just playing a character.

The Weeknd said, “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.” 

The Weeknd took the risk of millions of people not understanding his motives, having promoted his new albums in a bandage-covered face and unflattering prosthetics.

Whether a gimmick or as Weekend says, “being attractive isn’t important to me but a compelling narrative is,” this is dedication to a cause  or to the charts. Let’s see how long the Weeknd charades his act in the future.