Resilience and perseverance in the journey of The Weeknd. A timeline of obstacles and growth.
Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, famously known as The Weeknd, is a highly acclaimed Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor. He's garnered significant recognition for his work, evidenced by a vast collection of awards. These include four Grammy Awards, 20 Billboard Music Awards, 22 Juno Awards, six American Music Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards, and a Latin Grammy Award. Furthermore, his talent has also been recognized with nominations for both an Academy Award and a Primetime Emmy Award, highlighting his versatility and impact across various entertainment platforms.
January 2015: Arrest in Las Vegas
In January 2015, Tesfaye was arrested for allegedly punching a police officer in Las Vegas and was sentenced to community service.
December 2015: Sued by Cutting Edge Music over "The Hills"
In December 2015, The Weeknd was sued by Cutting Edge Music, which alleged that the bassline for "The Hills" had been taken from a composition featured in the score for the 2013 science fiction film The Machine.
September 2018: Sued for allegedly stealing rhythm for "Starboy"
In September 2018, The Weeknd and Daft Punk were sued for allegedly stealing the rhythm for "Starboy" from Ethiopian poet and singer-songwriter Yasminah.
January 2019: Criticism for lyrics in "Lost in the Fire"
In January 2019, The Weeknd was criticized for some of the lyrics in his and Gesaffelstein's single "Lost in the Fire", accused of being homophobic and fetishizing bisexuality.
April 2019: Sued for copyright infringement over "A Lonely Night"
In April 2019, The Weeknd was sued by British trio William Smith, Brian Clover, and Scott McCulloch, who accused him of copyright infringement from plagiarising their song "I Need to Love" in order to create his song "A Lonely Night".
August 2019: Lawsuit over "A Lonely Night" dismissed
In August 2019, the lawsuit against The Weeknd over "A Lonely Night" was dismissed via summary judgment with the option to amend.
September 2019: Amended claim filed in "A Lonely Night" lawsuit
In September 2019, the plaintiffs filed an amended claim based on secondary infringement in the lawsuit over "A Lonely Night", which remains in litigation.
February 2020: Sued over "Pray for Me" unauthorized sample
In February 2020, The Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar were sued by Yeasayer, claiming that "Pray for Me" includes an unauthorized sample of their song "Sunrise".
September 2021: Sued for copyright infringement over "Call Out My Name"
In September 2021, The Weeknd, Nicolás Jaar, and Frank Dukes were sued for copyright infringement by producers Suniel Fox and Henry Strange, protesting that "Call Out My Name" is similar to their 2015 track "Vibeking".
March 1, 2023: Rolling Stone releases exposé on The Idol working conditions
On March 1, 2023, Rolling Stone released a lengthy exposé on the working conditions and set life of the HBO drama series The Idol, a series in which The Weeknd stars, co-created and co-wrote alongside Sam Levinson. The series received significant controversy for its graphic depiction of sexual content, which critics labeled "torture porn".
August 28, 2023: HBO cancels The Idol after one season
On August 28, 2023, HBO announced the cancellation of The Idol, a series co-created by and starring The Weeknd, after only one season due to negative reviews and controversy.