The Weeknd Admits He Suffered A Panic Attack Before Interview Discussing Mental Health Struggles

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Premiere Of A24's "Uncut Gems" - Arrivals
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 11: The Weeknd attends the premiere of A24's "Uncut Gems" at The Dome at ArcLight Hollywood on December 11, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
The Weeknd spoke candidly about his challenges with mental health.

The Weeknd spoke candidly about his struggles with anxiety during an interview with Billboard Brazil ahead of Saturday night's massive concert in São Paulo. In doing so, he admitted that he suffered a panic attack just before the conversation and is constantly dealing with anxiety.

“It’s funny you should mention this [mental health]. I just had a panic attack right before this interview," he admitted to the outlet. "My anxiety is a constant battle, and I feel like it never goes away. I’m learning to control it, but I’ve already realized that it’s part of my life. I can’t escape it.”

The Weeknd Performs In Sao Paulo, Brazil

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - SEPTEMBER 7: Abel 'The Weeknd' Tesfaye performs on stage during the 'After Hours Til Dawn Tour' at MorumBIS on September 7, 2024 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Wagner Meier/Getty Images for Live Nation)

From there, he discussed the struggle he's felt with finding his purpose. “The biggest challenge is not knowing if you were made for this, not knowing if it was meant to be. Most people still don’t know. I feel very lucky. I was able to take these depressive and nihilistic feelings and put them into my work. That ended up being my therapy,” he said. Billboard noted that he was raised in an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian household before he mentioned his connection to God. “I think about giving up every day. But I also find purpose every day,” he said. “My relationship with God is stronger than ever. I find comfort in His presence when I need it most. I talk to Him constantly. It’s been a long journey, but I’m here."

The Weeknd Shares The Artwork For "Hurry Up Tomorrow"

During the São Paulo concert, The Weeknd ended up bringing out Playboi Carti to premiere an unreleased song. It comes as he continues to prepare for his new album, Hurry Up Tomorrow. He shared the cover art for fans on Friday. Be on the lookout for further updates on The Weeknd on HotNewHipHop.

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About The Author
Cole Blake is a current staff writer at HotNewHipHop based out of New York City. He began writing for the site as an intern back in 2018 while finishing his B.A. in Journalism at St. John’s University. In the time since, he’s covered a number of breaking stories for HNHH. These include the ongoing YSL RICO trial, the allegations surrounding Diddy, and much more. His work also extends outside of hip-hop, having written extensively about a myriad of topics including politics, sports, and pop culture. He’s attended several music festivals to provide coverage for the site as well, such as Rolling Loud and Governors Ball.
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