The Weeknd’s Troubled Upbringing and Incarceration

Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, had a difficult upbringing. Raised by a single mother in a Toronto suburb, he and his best friend La Mar Taylor dropped out of school at 17 and moved into an apartment, where they spent their money on alcohol and drugs such as ketamine, cocaine, and MDMA. The Weeknd has since reflected on these experiences, saying, “I could have ruined my whole life by dropping out of school. The consequences might have been horrible.” He also admitted to stealing from supermarkets and using girls to provide him with a place to stay. Eventually, he was able to secure a job at American Apparel and began writing and recording music.