The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, followed in the footsteps of his idols such as Michael Jackson and Prince by performing at the halftime show for the ultra popular Superbowl.
🔥🔥🔥 @TheWeeknd #PepsiHalftime #SBLV pic.twitter.com/QCFlAPcion
— NFL (@NFL) February 8, 2021
Ahead of the Super Bowl, The Weeknd told Variety, “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.”
BLINDING LIGHTS 🙌 @TheWeeknd #PepsiHalftime #SBLV pic.twitter.com/Qv9yyW8wED
— NFL (@NFL) February 8, 2021
In the interview with Variety, Tesfaye said that he drew inspiration from Diana Ross’s performance at the Super Bowl XXX halftime show in 1996. “She’s just so glamorous and the show just makes me smile,” he said. “And she has a great exit with the helicopter—it lands in the middle of the field, she grabs onto it and flies off into the clouds, it’s like… I wish I could have done that, I wish I’d thought of it. Although I don’t think I have enough money to do it!”
Check out the reactions below.
Man people are gonna call you crazy for this, but you speaking truth. I felt so uncomfortable watching this I had to turn it off. It's so blatant
— King Pak (@pakmann864) February 8, 2021
It was so predictable. Abaddon the destroyer worshipped by the masses crazy
— arnaldonyc (@arnaldonyc) February 8, 2021
I love how blatant they are with it. Laughing in the ignorant ppl faces.
People who know what they’re looking at see right though it.
— The Pied Piper (@CleSportOpinion) February 8, 2021
Subliminal messaging. There is meaning and thought behind everything
— Alex (@Haz3Box) February 8, 2021
The weekend is nowhere near the same level as Bruno Mars and Michael Jackson. It's an insult to put them in the same sentence.
— Applehead Honey (@AppleheadHoney1) February 8, 2021
WTF?!?! pic.twitter.com/rvKJsgARxG
— With the tenth pick the ✭ select… (@mac_prescott) February 8, 2021
Something that makes my heart so happy is the unmistakeable Michael Jackson influence in @theweeknd’s performance.
ESPECIALLY “I Feel It Coming” – almost like it engages the same neural pathway that lights up when I listen to MJ. The same emotions, same memories.#SuperBowl
— Dr Carmen Monoxide (@CARM1Monoxide) February 8, 2021
Michael Jackson looking down at this performance like #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/t8bvQyOsDi
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 8, 2021
Congratulations The Weeknd pic.twitter.com/rTKg2FnT41
— faith for all (@xxxangely) February 8, 2021
Oh no. Now you’ve gone too far girl!! Nooooooooooo. Lol. Take it back!! pic.twitter.com/0YIIaGORcM
— Summer (@scfancher) February 8, 2021
— J (@J_Stright) February 8, 2021
