the weeknd amas performance
The Weeknd performs at the 2020 AMAs.
AMA2020/Getty Images
  • The Weeknd showed up heavily bandaged at the 2020 American Music Awards on Sunday.
  • The broken nose and generally injured appearance is a recurring aesthetic of the singer’s current “After Hours” era, which he has referred to as “The Character.” 
  • Nevertheless, people on Twitter turned The Weeknd into a meme.
  • Some compared his mummy-like appearance to characters on “SpongeBob SquarePants,” while others made jokes about his 2015 hit, “Can’t Feel My Face.”
  • Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.

The Weeknd showed up bandaged like a mummy to the 2020 American Music Awards on Sunday — and viewers were quick to turn his injured veneer into a meme.

The singer-songwriter, born Abel Tesfaye, has regularly appeared in gruesome makeup during his public appearances this year. His broken nose and bloodied face is a recurring aesthetic of the singer’s current era, which he has referred to as “The Character.”

As he explained to GQ, The Weeknd wrote his newest album “After Hours” from the perspective of “a ‘character’ losing his mind in Vegas.”

“I kept thinking about his style and how I felt he would be the right person to execute the vision,” he said. “I wanted to see him on screen more.”

After shooting the visual for lead single “Heartless,” The Weeknd rehired director Anton Tammi to helm every music video for the “After Hours” era. Tammi also photographed the cover art for the album.

The Weeknd has subsequently remained in character for live performances of his new songs, with his makeup growing slightly more intense with each appearance.

the weeknd after hours character
The Weeknd at "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" in January and the MTV Video Music Awards in August.
Randy Holmes/Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

After accepting the award for favorite soul/R&B album, The Weeknd began trending on Twitter.

People compared him to characters on "SpongeBob SquarePants," while others made jokes about the chart-topper's 2015 hit, "Can't Feel My Face."

His bandages remained intact for his performance "In Your Eyes" and "Save Your Tears," plus his acceptance speech for favorite soul/R&B song for "Heartless."

Some made jokes about his future appearances, including the 2021 Grammy Awards (where he's considered a frontrunner for album of the year) and the 2021 Super Bowl halftime show.

The Weeknd's "After Hours" aesthetic was largely inspired by films like "Possession" and "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," but many compared him to Batman's infamous antagonist, The Joker.

Still, many others praised The Weeknd's performance and defended his commitment.

Read the original article on Insider