How breaking world records helped The Weeknd megafan meet her idol
A superfan of The Weeknd has shared how breaking world records with her knowledge of his music led to meeting her idol.
Karla O’Brien (USA) first entered the record books in July 2024, when with a total of 31, she claimed the record for most The Weeknd songs identified from their lyrics in one minute.
Proving her love and admiration for the star, a record breaker himself, Karla rapidly named songs before the person quizzing her had even finished reading out the lyric.
Karla with her GWR certificates signed by The Weeknd
She broke her own record the following February with a total of 34, but she could never have imagined the doors it would open for her.
She told us: “Holding the record has led me to experiences I never imagined. After posting about my record in October 2024, Abel [Tesfaye, the star’s real name] noticed and reposted me on both Instagram and X. The following March, I shared that I had broken my own record and received overwhelming support from the XO community.
“In early May, just days before my college graduation, I was invited to an early screening of The Weeknd’s movie, Hurry Up Tomorrow. During the screening, director Trey Edward Shults surprised the audience by revealing that Abel was making an appearance. When he came out, the room erupted with joy.
The Weeknd poses with fans, including Karla, left in the red top, at the premiere
“Watching the film alongside some of his biggest fans, before its official release, and hearing Abel speak about how personal the project was to him made the night unforgettable. After his monologue, I was even fortunate enough to exchange a few words and get a selfie with him.”
In the selfie, Karla has a huge grin plastered across her face and The Weeknd has his arm draped around her shoulder.
Karla added: “That premiere kicked off an incredible summer of attending multiple sold-out After Hours Til Dawn tour shows. At the second-to-last show in Houston, my world records were taken backstage and signed by Abel, they are easily my most prized possessions.
Karla met her idol after breaking a world record
“I’m excited for what’s next and hope to see him this August as he headlines five shows at Wembley Stadium. It’s truly the greatest show on Earth, and I have a feeling Abel will be breaking even more Guinness World Records titles in 2026.”
We’re so happy that becoming a record breaker could lead to Karla having such an amazing experience.
Read about record-breaking celebrities like The Weeknd in our Arts and Entertainment section.