Music

The Weeknd donates $250,000 to Black Lives Matter

by Tyler Munro

Abel Tesfaye made his mark as a man behind the scenes. The Weeknd’s first series of mixtapes were shrouded in mystery; we knew he was from Toronto, and eventually, his name, but his first coming out party, a show at the 620-capacity Mod Club, was a “you had to be there” moment for music fans. In the years since, he’s risen to stardom, evolving his cloud-cloaked boner jams into straight up pop smashes.

But even as he continues to climb, then sit comfortably, atop the charts, Tesfaye finds new ways to make his mark behind the scenes. His latest efforts deserve the spotlight, though — in the last week, Tesfaye has been riding a generous wave. First, he donated $50,000 to help launch the University of Toronto’s Ethiopic Studies program — a first in North America — no doubt a nod to his Ethiopian heritage.

Now, according to Fader, he’s done one better, donating a whopping $250,000 to Black Lives Matter.

Details are sparse, but the fund is a major boon to a movement that needs it; oft misunderstood by the over-privileged, Black Lives Matter, in both the United States and increasingly in Canada, has been integral in not only shining light on systemic injustices, but making real strides to correct them.

Good on Tesfaye. He’s not putting his money where his mouth is so much as letting his money do the talking for him. In a political climate that’s desperate to turn pop stars into talking heads, this is a statement that speaks for itself.