The Weeknd, known for his music and social media appearances, has explained why he spent his early career remaining anonymous and avoiding interviews due to his insecurity. The singer, born Abel Tesfaye, revealed his identity in a 2013 interview that he never did any interviews before and instead chose to let the music speak for itself. The Weeknd's decision to remain anonymous was partly due to the pressures of fame and his desire for fans to engage with the music rather than the person. However, he admitted that he was initially hesitant in the early years of his fame and that he felt it was his time as a successful artist.