After Threatening to ‘Retire’ The Weeknd Persona, Abel Tesfaye Hits Reverse and Says He’s ‘Not Stepping Away From Anything’

The Weeknd freaked out some of his longtime fans last year when he told Variety magazine that after 16 years inhabiting his stage persona, the man born Abel Tesfaye was ready to move on to his next era and retire the character .

Well, after explaining at the time that “it never ends until you end it,” now he’s doubling-down on not ending it.

Tesfaye, 36, who has been releasing music as The Weeknd since 2011, told a crowd in Stockholm last month that he’d had a change of heart.

“ I’ll never disappear.

I love this too much to ever disappear .

I tested retirement a little bit, and I don’t like the way it feels.

I said, Imma be here forever with you, I’ll never disappear,” he said, according to fan video of the statement.

Now, in a new interview with GQ Hong Kong , Tesfaye has clarified those comments and explained his strike-that-reverse-it stance.

“Disappearing simply means finally taking some time to focus all my energy on one project instead of juggling multiple things,” he told the magazine.

“This past five years for me has been creating four concept albums, countless music videos, a TV show, a feature film, and I’m still out here on a massive world tour spanning years.

I think disappearing for a little while is well earned.” And, if that wasn’t clear enough, he added, “I’m not stepping away from anything.

I’m just hibernating.

I’m not going anywhere.

My fans know I’ve shed my skin multiple times throughout my career.