Super Bowl Halftime Show 2021: The Weeknd teases details of his performance, to tone down bloody 'After Hours' story line

The Weeknd

 

The Weeknd is ready to kick off the Pepsi Super Bowl 55 Half Time show in an epic and unprecedented way.

The Weeknd just revealed to the NFL network that like Lady Gaga and Justin Timberlake who came before him, he will also be going at it alone during his 2021 Pepsi Super Bowl 55 halftime performance.

Recent halftime shows have featured a number of special guests with Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Lopez inviting Bad Bunny and J Balvin to the stage last year, Maroon 5 joined by Travis Scott and Big Boi in 2019, and Coldplay shared the stage with Beyonce, Bruno Mars, and Mark Bronson in 2016.

It has been reported that The Weeknd pumped millions of his own dollars into this performance and he won't have the traditional stage due to covid.

"Due to the covid and for the safety of the players and the workers, we kind of built the stage within the stadium we're also using the field as well but we wanted to kind of do something that we've never done before.  I'm not going to tell you anything else because you have to watch on Sunday."

 

The 30 year old singer, whose real name is Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, has never shied away from being provocative with his art.    He's been super committed to the aesthetic of his latest album 'After Hours' rocking suits and head bandages at many recent performances.

The Weeknd

While The Weeknd has been stingy with the details of his game day performance during his press conference he revealed he will tone down the sometimes bloody year-long after-hours storyline.

"I defeinitely want to be respectful to the viewers at home, I will still incorporate the story line. It's a very cohesive story I've been telling throughout this era but definitely we will keep it PG.  I'll try my best."

When it comes to Super Bowl halftime shows of the past The Weeknd says one stands out above the rest.

"My favorite is definitely Diana Ross 1996.  She's just so glamorous and the show just makes me smile and she has a great exit with the helicopter.  She lands in the middle of the field, grabs onto it and flies out into the clouds.  It's like I wish I could have done that.  I don't think I have enough money to do it to be honest."

Super Bowl 55 airs live Sunday, February 7th at 6:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. PT) on CBS and CBS all access.