The Weeknd’s take on a Persona 5 villain leaves fans in stitches.
Experiencing heartbreak over an in-game crush is a classic moment for gamers, no matter how famous they are. Just take a look at Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye’s recent Instagram Stories, where he’s been sharing his struggles in Persona 5 Royal.
The talented singer, known for his smooth vocals, has been flaunting his gaming skills over the past few months. While he consistently ranks among Spotify’s top artists, he’s also made time to visit Sega’s Japan offices, conquer Nier: Automata, and even forge a friendship with Nier series creator Yoko Taro.
In late April, Tesfaye began updating fans on his Persona 5 Royal journey through his alternate account, Gene.hackerman. He’s logged at least 92 hours in Atlus’s beloved RPG and has maxed out several relationships. One of his first posts about the game featured a screenshot of Tae Takemi, the goth-mommy doctor who has become a fan-favorite romance option. This sparked fans to tease Tesfaye about who he was pursuing during the life-sim segments of Persona 5.
Then came the revelation: he was too late to secure a romance with Takemi, despite his clear affection for her.
Tesfaye underscored the weight of his blunder with a post showing a man shooting himself in the head.
Ouch. Many gamers can relate, and it’s amusing to see that even a high-profile figure who has dated models can feel the same way about characters we adore. Persona 5 fans are definitely getting a kick out of this.
“Sending prayers,” one fan commented on X in response to the updates. “Whenever The Weeknd drops his next album and mentions a girl, we know who he’s talking about,” another added.
Most replies either offer comfort to Tesfaye or share their own tales of failed Persona 5 romances. Regardless of who the musical star ends up with, he’s now forever linked to the JRPG. This romance mishap coincides with the singer wearing a mask on tour that looks strikingly familiar. Even the developers of Persona 5 have taken notice of Tesfaye’s enthusiasm.
