{"id":2102068,"date":"2026-08-13T04:19:20","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T01:19:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2102068"},"modified":"2026-08-13T04:19:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T01:19:20","slug":"the-weeknd-confirms-he-is-no-longer-retiring-his-moniker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2102068","title":{"rendered":"The Weeknd Confirms He Is No Longer Retiring His Moniker"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F08%2F12%2Fthe-weeknd-confirms-he-is-no-longer-retiring-his-moniker-tw.jpg?w=1080&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&#8221;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"col-post-body col\">\n<div class=\"row post-body\">\n<aside class=\"post-body-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-upper\">\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-category d-none d-lg-block\">\n<p>    Music\n                                                                                                    <\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-published d-none d-lg-block\"><time>Aug 13, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<ul class=\"post-body-sidebar-hype-comments-container list-unstyled d-none d-lg-block\">\n<li><span class=\"hype-count grey\"><br \/>\n             1.3K<br \/>\n    <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\"><span>Views<\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li><span class=\"disqus-comment-count\"><span>0<\/span><span>\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"d-none d-sm-inline text\">Comments<\/span><\/span>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\"><span>Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li><span class=\"text\">Save<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-author d-none d-lg-block\">\n<hr class=\"sidebar-divider share-divider\">\n<h6>Text By<\/h6>\n<p><span class=\"author-name\">Joyce Li<\/span><\/div>\n<hr class=\"sidebar-divider d-none d-lg-block\">\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-share d-none d-lg-block\">\n<h6>Share this article<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<article class=\"post-body-article\">\n<div class=\"post-gallery-container small inner-media\">\n<div class=\"gallery-container post-gallery-contain\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"The Weeknd Confirms He Is No Longer Retiring His Moniker\">\n<div class=\"hb-gallery before-booted full-screen-enabled only-one-cell \" data-images=\"[{&quot;image&quot;:{&quot;description&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_caption&quot;:null,&quot;small&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F08%2F12%2Fthe-weeknd-confirms-he-is-no-longer-retiring-his-moniker-001.jpg?w=480&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;medium&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F08%2F12%2Fthe-weeknd-confirms-he-is-no-longer-retiring-his-moniker-001.jpg?w=720&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;large&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F08%2F12%2Fthe-weeknd-confirms-he-is-no-longer-retiring-his-moniker-001.jpg?w=1080&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;xlarge&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F08%2F12%2Fthe-weeknd-confirms-he-is-no-longer-retiring-his-moniker-001.jpg?w=1440&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;full&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F08%2F12%2Fthe-weeknd-confirms-he-is-no-longer-retiring-his-moniker-001.jpg?w=1440&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;},&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/hypebeast.com\/image\/2026\/08\/12\/the-weeknd-confirms-he-is-no-longer-retiring-his-moniker-001.jpg&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;The Weeknd Confirms He Is No Longer Retiring His Moniker abel tesfaye not retiring continue performing had a taste&quot;,&quot;width&quot;:1400,&quot;height&quot;:933,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Pedro Becerra\/Getty Images&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;creditKey&quot;:&quot;general&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;annotations&quot;:null,&quot;shop&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;label&quot;:&quot;&quot;}}]\" role=\"list\">\n<div class=\"carousel-cell landscape\" data-gallery-index=\"1\" role=\"listitem\">\n<div class=\"carousel-cell-inner-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"carousel-cell-image-wrapper annotation-container fixed-ratio-3-2\">\n                                                                                                        <source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F08%2F12%2Fthe-weeknd-confirms-he-is-no-longer-retiring-his-moniker-001.jpg?q=90&amp;w=1400&amp;cbr=1&amp;fit=max\" media=\"(min-width: 1260px)\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-meta-container credit-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"credit \">Pedro Becerra\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"post-body-top-bar\" class=\"post-body-top-bar d-block d-lg-none\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-share-meta-container\">\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-meta\"><span class=\"post-body-top-bar-category\"><\/p>\n<p>    Music<br \/>\n                                                    <\/span><span class=\"post-body-top-bar-published\"><time>Aug 13, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-hype-comments-container \"><span class=\"hype-count grey\"><br \/>\n             1.3K<br \/>\n    <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\"><span>Views<\/span><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"disqus-comment-count\"><span>0<\/span><span>\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"d-none d-none text\">Comments<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\"><span>Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"text\">Save<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-content\">\n<section class=\"post-summary\" aria-labelledby=\"post-summary-heading\">\n<header class=\"post-summary__header\">\n<h2 id=\"post-summary-heading\" class=\"post-summary__title\">Summary<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"post-summary__body\">\n<p>The Weeknd announced during a recent concert that he is no longer planning to retire his stage name<\/p>\n<p>Abel Tesfaye previously considered retiring the moniker to pursue film projects and release work under his birth name<\/p>\n<p>The singer confirmed during his live performance that his brief trial with retirement changed his mind<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>The Weeknd has officially confirmed that he will not be retiring his iconic stage moniker after all. The Toronto artist\u2014born Abel Tesfaye\u2014addressed the crowd at a recent live show to clarify that he plans to keep his long-running creative persona alive.<\/p>\n<p>During a recent show in Stockholm, he spoke on how he tested retirement, \u201cI\u2019ll never disappear. I love this too much to ever disappear. I tested retirement a little bit, and I don\u2019t like the way it feels. Imma be here forever with you.\u201d The artist also revealed that he had a taste of retirement and that he came to the conclusion that it was not as he expected.<\/p>\n<p>The announcement marks a departure from previous statements where Tesfaye teased concluding his run as The Weeknd around the Hurry Up Tomorrow era. The multi-hyphenate previously told Variety that transitioning to his real name would facilitate branching out into acting and other mediums, especially after feeling he had mastered the challenges associated with the character. The hesitation originally began after a rocky performance at SoFi Stadium, where losing his voice prompted questions about exiting the persona at its peak. However, the Canadian singer has now reaffirmed his commitment to the moniker for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n<div class=\"show-article\">\n<p>                                                            Read Full Article<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<footer>\n<div class=\"related-stories-main-wrapper\">\n<h3>Related Stories<\/h3>\n<div class=\"stories-container\" data-layer-list-name=\"related_stories\" data-layer-list-offset=\"0\" data-layer-list-child-selector=\".story-item\">\n<div class=\"story-item\" data-layer-item-id=\"6769076\" data-layer-item-blog-id=\"1\" data-layer-item-type=\"post\"><span>&gt;<\/span>Is a Remaster of \u2018The Simpsons: Hit &amp; Run\u2019 in the Making?\n                                                                        <\/div>\n<div class=\"story-item\" data-layer-item-id=\"6768885\" data-layer-item-blog-id=\"1\" data-layer-item-type=\"post\"><span>&gt;<\/span>TOHO Animation Sets October Debut for \u2018The Apothecary Diaries\u2019 Season 3\n                                                                        <\/div>\n<div class=\"story-item\" data-layer-item-id=\"6769804\" data-layer-item-blog-id=\"1\" data-layer-item-type=\"post\"><span>&gt;<\/span>WIND AND SEA  Reunite With \u2018Parappa the Rapper\u2019 for a Special 30th Anniversary Collection\n                                                                        <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-email-signup-wrapper impression-tracker\">\n<h3>We got you covered. Don\u2019t miss out on the latest news by signing up for our newsletters.<\/h3>\n<div class=\"terms\">By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-author d-block d-lg-none\">\n<hr class=\"sidebar-divider share-divider\">\n<h6>Text By<\/h6>\n<p><span class=\"author-name\">Joyce Li<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-share d-block d-lg-none\">\n<hr class=\"sidebar-divider\">\n<h6>Share this article<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-content-tags\">\n<div class=\"body collapsed\">\n<p>    The WeekndAbel Tesfaye\n                                                            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"post__body__author_info\">\n<div class=\"post__body__author_info__inner\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F06%2F05%2Fjoyce-300.jpg?w=100&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max\" alt=\"Joyce Li\" class=\"post__body__author_info__avatar\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"post__body__author_info__body\">\n<p>                    Joyce Li<\/p>\n<p>                                    <span class=\"post__body__author_info__title\">Editor<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post__body__author_info__bio_wrapper\">\n<p class=\"post__body__author_info__bio\">For over half a decade, Joyce Li has served as an Editor on Hypebeast&#8217;s global team, leveraging profound industry insights to capture the zeitgeist. Through her editorial lens, she anticipates emerging trends while dedicating her platform to spotlighting those making the greatest impact on culture today. A storyteller first and foremost, she examines the cross-pollination of fashion, footwear, art, music, and sports. This intersectional approach has led to compelling interviews with industry-defining figures like LeBron James, Pharrell Williams, Tom Brady, NIGO, A$AP Rocky, KAWS, and more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"post-footer\" class=\"post-footer row\">\n<div class=\"col-shopping-break\">\n<hr>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-comments\">\n<div id=\"comments\" class=\"post-comments none \">\n<header>\n<div class=\"heading\"><span class=\"comment-count\">0<\/span><span>Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"comment-dropdown-tooltip\">\n<ul>\n<li>\n<li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row post-body\">\n<aside class=\"post-body-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-upper\">\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-category d-none d-lg-block\">\n<p>    Music\n                                                                                                    <\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-published d-none d-lg-block\"><time>Aug 13, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<ul class=\"post-body-sidebar-hype-comments-container list-unstyled d-none d-lg-block\">\n<li><span class=\"hype-count grey\"><br \/>\n             1.3K<br \/>\n    <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\"><span>Views<\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li><span class=\"disqus-comment-count\"><span>0<\/span><span>\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"d-none d-sm-inline text\">Comments<\/span><\/span>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\"><span>Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li><span class=\"text\">Save<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-author d-none d-lg-block\">\n<hr class=\"sidebar-divider share-divider\">\n<h6>Text By<\/h6>\n<p><span class=\"author-name\">Joyce Li<\/span><\/div>\n<hr class=\"sidebar-divider d-none d-lg-block\">\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-share d-none d-lg-block\">\n<h6>Share this article<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<article class=\"post-body-article\">\n<div class=\"post-gallery-container small inner-media\">\n<div class=\"gallery-container post-gallery-contain\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"The Weeknd Confirms He Is No Longer Retiring His Moniker\">\n<div class=\"hb-gallery before-booted full-screen-enabled only-one-cell \" data-images=\"[{&quot;image&quot;:{&quot;description&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_caption&quot;:null,&quot;small&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F08%2F12%2Fthe-weeknd-confirms-he-is-no-longer-retiring-his-moniker-001.jpg?w=480&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;medium&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F08%2F12%2Fthe-weeknd-confirms-he-is-no-longer-retiring-his-moniker-001.jpg?w=720&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;large&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F08%2F12%2Fthe-weeknd-confirms-he-is-no-longer-retiring-his-moniker-001.jpg?w=1080&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;xlarge&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F08%2F12%2Fthe-weeknd-confirms-he-is-no-longer-retiring-his-moniker-001.jpg?w=1440&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;full&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F08%2F12%2Fthe-weeknd-confirms-he-is-no-longer-retiring-his-moniker-001.jpg?w=1440&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;},&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/hypebeast.com\/image\/2026\/08\/12\/the-weeknd-confirms-he-is-no-longer-retiring-his-moniker-001.jpg&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;The Weeknd Confirms He Is No Longer Retiring His Moniker abel tesfaye not retiring continue performing had a taste&quot;,&quot;width&quot;:1400,&quot;height&quot;:933,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Pedro Becerra\/Getty Images&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;creditKey&quot;:&quot;general&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;annotations&quot;:null,&quot;shop&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;label&quot;:&quot;&quot;}}]\" role=\"list\">\n<div class=\"carousel-cell landscape\" data-gallery-index=\"1\" role=\"listitem\">\n<div class=\"carousel-cell-inner-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"carousel-cell-image-wrapper annotation-container fixed-ratio-3-2\">\n                                                                                                        <source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F08%2F12%2Fthe-weeknd-confirms-he-is-no-longer-retiring-his-moniker-001.jpg?q=90&amp;w=1400&amp;cbr=1&amp;fit=max\" media=\"(min-width: 1260px)\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-meta-container credit-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"credit \">Pedro Becerra\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"post-body-top-bar\" class=\"post-body-top-bar d-block d-lg-none\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-share-meta-container\">\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-meta\"><span class=\"post-body-top-bar-category\"><\/p>\n<p>    Music<br \/>\n                                                    <\/span><span class=\"post-body-top-bar-published\"><time>Aug 13, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-hype-comments-container \"><span class=\"hype-count grey\"><br \/>\n             1.3K<br \/>\n    <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\"><span>Views<\/span><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"disqus-comment-count\"><span>0<\/span><span>\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"d-none d-none text\">Comments<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\"><span>Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"text\">Save<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-content\">\n<section class=\"post-summary\" aria-labelledby=\"post-summary-heading\">\n<header class=\"post-summary__header\">\n<h2 id=\"post-summary-heading\" class=\"post-summary__title\">Summary<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"post-summary__body\">\n<p>The Weeknd announced during a recent concert that he is no longer planning to retire his stage name<\/p>\n<p>Abel Tesfaye previously considered retiring the moniker to pursue film projects and release work under his birth name<\/p>\n<p>The singer confirmed during his live performance that his brief trial with retirement changed his mind<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>The Weeknd has officially confirmed that he will not be retiring his iconic stage moniker after all. The Toronto artist\u2014born Abel Tesfaye\u2014addressed the crowd at a recent live show to clarify that he plans to keep his long-running creative persona alive.<\/p>\n<p>During a recent show in Stockholm, he spoke on how he tested retirement, \u201cI\u2019ll never disappear. I love this too much to ever disappear. I tested retirement a little bit, and I don\u2019t like the way it feels. Imma be here forever with you.\u201d The artist also revealed that he had a taste of retirement and that he came to the conclusion that it was not as he expected.<\/p>\n<p>The announcement marks a departure from previous statements where Tesfaye teased concluding his run as The Weeknd around the Hurry Up Tomorrow era. The multi-hyphenate previously told Variety that transitioning to his real name would facilitate branching out into acting and other mediums, especially after feeling he had mastered the challenges associated with the character. The hesitation originally began after a rocky performance at SoFi Stadium, where losing his voice prompted questions about exiting the persona at its peak. However, the Canadian singer has now reaffirmed his commitment to the moniker for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n<div class=\"show-article\">\n<p>                                                            Read Full Article<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<footer>\n<div class=\"related-stories-main-wrapper\">\n<h3>Related Stories<\/h3>\n<div class=\"stories-container\" data-layer-list-name=\"related_stories\" data-layer-list-offset=\"0\" data-layer-list-child-selector=\".story-item\">\n<div class=\"story-item\" data-layer-item-id=\"6769076\" data-layer-item-blog-id=\"1\" data-layer-item-type=\"post\"><span>&gt;<\/span>Is a Remaster of \u2018The Simpsons: Hit &amp; Run\u2019 in the Making?\n                                                                        <\/div>\n<div class=\"story-item\" data-layer-item-id=\"6768885\" data-layer-item-blog-id=\"1\" data-layer-item-type=\"post\"><span>&gt;<\/span>TOHO Animation Sets October Debut for \u2018The Apothecary Diaries\u2019 Season 3\n                                                                        <\/div>\n<div class=\"story-item\" data-layer-item-id=\"6769804\" data-layer-item-blog-id=\"1\" data-layer-item-type=\"post\"><span>&gt;<\/span>WIND AND SEA  Reunite With \u2018Parappa the Rapper\u2019 for a Special 30th Anniversary Collection\n                                                                        <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-email-signup-wrapper impression-tracker\">\n<h3>We got you covered. Don\u2019t miss out on the latest news by signing up for our newsletters.<\/h3>\n<div class=\"terms\">By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-author d-block d-lg-none\">\n<hr class=\"sidebar-divider share-divider\">\n<h6>Text By<\/h6>\n<p><span class=\"author-name\">Joyce Li<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-share d-block d-lg-none\">\n<hr class=\"sidebar-divider\">\n<h6>Share this article<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-content-tags\">\n<div class=\"body collapsed\">\n<p>    The WeekndAbel Tesfaye\n                                                            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"post__body__author_info\">\n<div class=\"post__body__author_info__inner\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F06%2F05%2Fjoyce-300.jpg?w=100&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max\" alt=\"Joyce Li\" class=\"post__body__author_info__avatar\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"post__body__author_info__body\">\n<p>                    Joyce Li<\/p>\n<p>                                    <span class=\"post__body__author_info__title\">Editor<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post__body__author_info__bio_wrapper\">\n<p class=\"post__body__author_info__bio\">For over half a decade, Joyce Li has served as an Editor on Hypebeast&#8217;s global team, leveraging profound industry insights to capture the zeitgeist. Through her editorial lens, she anticipates emerging trends while dedicating her platform to spotlighting those making the greatest impact on culture today. A storyteller first and foremost, she examines the cross-pollination of fashion, footwear, art, music, and sports. This intersectional approach has led to compelling interviews with industry-defining figures like LeBron James, Pharrell Williams, Tom Brady, NIGO, A$AP Rocky, KAWS, and more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-upper\">\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-category d-none d-lg-block\">\n<p>    Music\n                                                                                                    <\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-published d-none d-lg-block\"><time>Aug 13, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<ul class=\"post-body-sidebar-hype-comments-container list-unstyled d-none d-lg-block\">\n<li><span class=\"hype-count grey\"><br \/>\n             1.3K<br \/>\n    <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\"><span>Views<\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li><span class=\"disqus-comment-count\"><span>0<\/span><span>\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"d-none d-sm-inline text\">Comments<\/span><\/span>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\"><span>Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li><span class=\"text\">Save<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-author d-none d-lg-block\">\n<hr class=\"sidebar-divider share-divider\">\n<h6>Text By<\/h6>\n<p><span class=\"author-name\">Joyce Li<\/span><\/div>\n<hr class=\"sidebar-divider d-none d-lg-block\">\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-share d-none d-lg-block\">\n<h6>Share this article<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-category d-none d-lg-block\">\n<p>    Music\n                                                                                                    <\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-published d-none d-lg-block\"><time>Aug 13, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-author d-none d-lg-block\">\n<hr class=\"sidebar-divider share-divider\">\n<h6>Text By<\/h6>\n<p><span class=\"author-name\">Joyce Li<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-share d-none d-lg-block\">\n<h6>Share this article<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n<article class=\"post-body-article\">\n<div class=\"post-gallery-container small inner-media\">\n<div class=\"gallery-container post-gallery-contain\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"The Weeknd Confirms He Is No Longer Retiring His Moniker\">\n<div class=\"hb-gallery before-booted full-screen-enabled only-one-cell \" data-images=\"[{&quot;image&quot;:{&quot;description&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_caption&quot;:null,&quot;small&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F08%2F12%2Fthe-weeknd-confirms-he-is-no-longer-retiring-his-moniker-001.jpg?w=480&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;medium&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F08%2F12%2Fthe-weeknd-confirms-he-is-no-longer-retiring-his-moniker-001.jpg?w=720&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;large&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F08%2F12%2Fthe-weeknd-confirms-he-is-no-longer-retiring-his-moniker-001.jpg?w=1080&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;xlarge&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F08%2F12%2Fthe-weeknd-confirms-he-is-no-longer-retiring-his-moniker-001.jpg?w=1440&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;full&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F08%2F12%2Fthe-weeknd-confirms-he-is-no-longer-retiring-his-moniker-001.jpg?w=1440&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;},&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/hypebeast.com\/image\/2026\/08\/12\/the-weeknd-confirms-he-is-no-longer-retiring-his-moniker-001.jpg&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;The Weeknd Confirms He Is No Longer Retiring His Moniker abel tesfaye not retiring continue performing had a taste&quot;,&quot;width&quot;:1400,&quot;height&quot;:933,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Pedro Becerra\/Getty Images&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;creditKey&quot;:&quot;general&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;annotations&quot;:null,&quot;shop&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;label&quot;:&quot;&quot;}}]\" role=\"list\">\n<div class=\"carousel-cell landscape\" data-gallery-index=\"1\" role=\"listitem\">\n<div class=\"carousel-cell-inner-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"carousel-cell-image-wrapper annotation-container fixed-ratio-3-2\">\n                                                                                                        <source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F08%2F12%2Fthe-weeknd-confirms-he-is-no-longer-retiring-his-moniker-001.jpg?q=90&amp;w=1400&amp;cbr=1&amp;fit=max\" media=\"(min-width: 1260px)\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-meta-container credit-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"credit \">Pedro Becerra\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"post-body-top-bar\" class=\"post-body-top-bar d-block d-lg-none\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-share-meta-container\">\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-meta\"><span class=\"post-body-top-bar-category\"><\/p>\n<p>    Music<br \/>\n                                                    <\/span><span class=\"post-body-top-bar-published\"><time>Aug 13, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-hype-comments-container \"><span class=\"hype-count grey\"><br \/>\n             1.3K<br \/>\n    <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\"><span>Views<\/span><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"disqus-comment-count\"><span>0<\/span><span>\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"d-none d-none text\">Comments<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\"><span>Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"text\">Save<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-content\">\n<section class=\"post-summary\" aria-labelledby=\"post-summary-heading\">\n<header class=\"post-summary__header\">\n<h2 id=\"post-summary-heading\" class=\"post-summary__title\">Summary<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"post-summary__body\">\n<p>The Weeknd announced during a recent concert that he is no longer planning to retire his stage name<\/p>\n<p>Abel Tesfaye previously considered retiring the moniker to pursue film projects and release work under his birth name<\/p>\n<p>The singer confirmed during his live performance that his brief trial with retirement changed his mind<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>The Weeknd has officially confirmed that he will not be retiring his iconic stage moniker after all. The Toronto artist\u2014born Abel Tesfaye\u2014addressed the crowd at a recent live show to clarify that he plans to keep his long-running creative persona alive.<\/p>\n<p>During a recent show in Stockholm, he spoke on how he tested retirement, \u201cI\u2019ll never disappear. I love this too much to ever disappear. I tested retirement a little bit, and I don\u2019t like the way it feels. Imma be here forever with you.\u201d The artist also revealed that he had a taste of retirement and that he came to the conclusion that it was not as he expected.<\/p>\n<p>The announcement marks a departure from previous statements where Tesfaye teased concluding his run as The Weeknd around the Hurry Up Tomorrow era. The multi-hyphenate previously told Variety that transitioning to his real name would facilitate branching out into acting and other mediums, especially after feeling he had mastered the challenges associated with the character. The hesitation originally began after a rocky performance at SoFi Stadium, where losing his voice prompted questions about exiting the persona at its peak. However, the Canadian singer has now reaffirmed his commitment to the moniker for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n<div class=\"show-article\">\n<p>                                                            Read Full Article<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<footer>\n<div class=\"related-stories-main-wrapper\">\n<h3>Related Stories<\/h3>\n<div class=\"stories-container\" data-layer-list-name=\"related_stories\" data-layer-list-offset=\"0\" data-layer-list-child-selector=\".story-item\">\n<div class=\"story-item\" data-layer-item-id=\"6769076\" data-layer-item-blog-id=\"1\" data-layer-item-type=\"post\"><span>&gt;<\/span>Is a Remaster of \u2018The Simpsons: Hit &amp; Run\u2019 in the Making?\n                                                                        <\/div>\n<div class=\"story-item\" data-layer-item-id=\"6768885\" data-layer-item-blog-id=\"1\" data-layer-item-type=\"post\"><span>&gt;<\/span>TOHO Animation Sets October Debut for \u2018The Apothecary Diaries\u2019 Season 3\n                                                                        <\/div>\n<div class=\"story-item\" data-layer-item-id=\"6769804\" data-layer-item-blog-id=\"1\" data-layer-item-type=\"post\"><span>&gt;<\/span>WIND AND SEA  Reunite With \u2018Parappa the Rapper\u2019 for a Special 30th Anniversary Collection\n                                                                        <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-email-signup-wrapper impression-tracker\">\n<h3>We got you covered. Don\u2019t miss out on the latest news by signing up for our newsletters.<\/h3>\n<div class=\"terms\">By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-author d-block d-lg-none\">\n<hr class=\"sidebar-divider share-divider\">\n<h6>Text By<\/h6>\n<p><span class=\"author-name\">Joyce Li<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-share d-block d-lg-none\">\n<hr class=\"sidebar-divider\">\n<h6>Share this article<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-content-tags\">\n<div class=\"body collapsed\">\n<p>    The WeekndAbel Tesfaye\n                                                            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"post__body__author_info\">\n<div class=\"post__body__author_info__inner\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F06%2F05%2Fjoyce-300.jpg?w=100&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max\" alt=\"Joyce Li\" class=\"post__body__author_info__avatar\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"post__body__author_info__body\">\n<p>                    Joyce Li<\/p>\n<p>                                    <span class=\"post__body__author_info__title\">Editor<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post__body__author_info__bio_wrapper\">\n<p class=\"post__body__author_info__bio\">For over half a decade, Joyce Li has served as an Editor on Hypebeast&#8217;s global team, leveraging profound industry insights to capture the zeitgeist. Through her editorial lens, she anticipates emerging trends while dedicating her platform to spotlighting those making the greatest impact on culture today. A storyteller first and foremost, she examines the cross-pollination of fashion, footwear, art, music, and sports. This intersectional approach has led to compelling interviews with industry-defining figures like LeBron James, Pharrell Williams, Tom Brady, NIGO, A$AP Rocky, KAWS, and more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<div id=\"post-body-top-bar\" class=\"post-body-top-bar d-block d-lg-none\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-share-meta-container\">\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-meta\"><span class=\"post-body-top-bar-category\"><\/p>\n<p>    Music<br \/>\n                                                    <\/span><span class=\"post-body-top-bar-published\"><time>Aug 13, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-hype-comments-container \"><span class=\"hype-count grey\"><br \/>\n             1.3K<br \/>\n    <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\"><span>Views<\/span><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"disqus-comment-count\"><span>0<\/span><span>\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"d-none d-none text\">Comments<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\"><span>Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"text\">Save<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-share-meta-container\">\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-meta\"><span class=\"post-body-top-bar-category\"><\/p>\n<p>    Music<br \/>\n                                                    <\/span><span class=\"post-body-top-bar-published\"><time>Aug 13, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-meta\"><span class=\"post-body-top-bar-category\"><\/p>\n<p>    Music<br \/>\n                                                    <\/span><span class=\"post-body-top-bar-published\"><time>Aug 13, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-hype-comments-container \"><span class=\"hype-count grey\"><br \/>\n             1.3K<br \/>\n    <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\"><span>Views<\/span><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"disqus-comment-count\"><span>0<\/span><span>\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"d-none d-none text\">Comments<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\"><span>Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"text\">Save<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-content\">\n<section class=\"post-summary\" aria-labelledby=\"post-summary-heading\">\n<header class=\"post-summary__header\">\n<h2 id=\"post-summary-heading\" class=\"post-summary__title\">Summary<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"post-summary__body\">\n<p>The Weeknd announced during a recent concert that he is no longer planning to retire his stage name<\/p>\n<p>Abel Tesfaye previously considered retiring the moniker to pursue film projects and release work under his birth name<\/p>\n<p>The singer confirmed during his live performance that his brief trial with retirement changed his mind<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>The Weeknd has officially confirmed that he will not be retiring his iconic stage moniker after all. The Toronto artist\u2014born Abel Tesfaye\u2014addressed the crowd at a recent live show to clarify that he plans to keep his long-running creative persona alive.<\/p>\n<p>During a recent show in Stockholm, he spoke on how he tested retirement, \u201cI\u2019ll never disappear. I love this too much to ever disappear. I tested retirement a little bit, and I don\u2019t like the way it feels. Imma be here forever with you.\u201d The artist also revealed that he had a taste of retirement and that he came to the conclusion that it was not as he expected.<\/p>\n<p>The announcement marks a departure from previous statements where Tesfaye teased concluding his run as The Weeknd around the Hurry Up Tomorrow era. The multi-hyphenate previously told Variety that transitioning to his real name would facilitate branching out into acting and other mediums, especially after feeling he had mastered the challenges associated with the character. The hesitation originally began after a rocky performance at SoFi Stadium, where losing his voice prompted questions about exiting the persona at its peak. However, the Canadian singer has now reaffirmed his commitment to the moniker for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n<div class=\"show-article\">\n<p>                                                            Read Full Article<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-author d-block d-lg-none\">\n<hr class=\"sidebar-divider share-divider\">\n<h6>Text By<\/h6>\n<p><span class=\"author-name\">Joyce Li<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-share d-block d-lg-none\">\n<hr class=\"sidebar-divider\">\n<h6>Share this article<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-content-tags\">\n<div class=\"body collapsed\">\n<p>    The WeekndAbel Tesfaye\n                                                            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/hypebeast.com\/2026\/8\/the-weeknd-confirms-he-is-no-longer-retiring-his-moniker&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F08%2F12%2Fthe-weeknd-confirms-he-is-no-longer-retiring-his-moniker-tw.jpg?w=1080&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&#8221;] Music Aug 13, 2026 1.3K Views 0\u00a0Comments Comments Save Text By Joyce Li Share this article Pedro Becerra\/Getty Images Music Aug 13, 2026 1.3K Views 0\u00a0Comments Comments Save Summary The Weeknd announced during a recent concert that he is no longer planning to retire his stage name Abel Tesfaye previously considered retiring [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,39],"class_list":["post-2102068","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-hypebeast-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2102068","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2102068"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2102068\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2102068"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2102068"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2102068"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}