He wanted her for an album cover. She said no. That’s basically how the whole thing started, which is kind of hilarious when you think about the years of high-drama, chart-topping heartbreak that followed.
Most people remember The Weeknd and Bella Hadid as that sleek, moody couple from the 2016 Met Gala or that iconic runway moment where she strutted past him at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. But looking back from 2026, the narrative has shifted. It wasn't just a "celebrity fling." It was a five-year era of modern pop culture that fundamentally changed how we look at "muses" and the messy reality of dating under a microscope.
Honestly, the timeline is a bit of a headache if you don't live on Twitter. They met at Coachella 2015, clicked instantly, and then spent the next several years in a cycle of breaking up, moving in, and writing "is this song about her?" lyrics.
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The Meet-Cute That Almost Didn't Happen
Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd’s real name) actually cold-called Bella for work. He wanted her to be on the artwork for Beauty Behind the Madness.
She turned him down.
In a 2015 Rolling Stone interview, Abel admitted his motive was "literally to work with her." When the professional route failed, he suggested meeting face-to-face. Within weeks of Coachella that year, they were inseparable. It was a classic 24-year-old musician meets 18-year-old rising supermodel story.
They weren't just a red carpet couple, though. Abel was basically part of the Hadid family. He’d play his unfinished demos for Yolanda, Gigi, and Anwar to get their thoughts before a release. Imagine being Yolanda Hadid and having to give notes on Starboy—it’s a wild mental image.
That Victoria's Secret Runway Moment
If you want to talk about "main character energy," you have to talk about November 2016. They had just broken up. Like, weeks before. Then, Bella has to make her VS Fashion Show debut in Paris while her ex-boyfriend is the musical guest.
The internet went feral.
As she walked out in that charcoal-gray lingerie set, she gave him a look that was half-smirk, half-longing. Abel couldn't keep his eyes off her. It looked like a movie scene, but behind the scenes, Bella was on the flight to Paris looking at old photos of them kissing. It was raw.
That’s the thing about The Weeknd and Bella Hadid—they never quite knew how to be "just friends" even when they were trying.
The Selena Gomez Interruption and the 2018 Reunion
The "Selena Era" in 2017 felt like a plot twist nobody asked for. Abel and Selena Gomez dated for ten months, even going Instagram official at the Met Gala. But the second that ended, Abel was spotted leaving Bella’s apartment in New York.
By Coachella 2018, they were back. They moved in together in New York. There were rumors of a proposal. A source told Us Weekly at the time that they were "madly in love" and everyone expected an engagement announcement.
But then, 2019 happened.
Why They Actually Called It Quits (For Real This Time)
People love to speculate about cheating or big blowouts, but the reality was much more boring and, honestly, more relatable.
- Distance: Abel was locked in a studio finishing After Hours. Bella was flying to Milan, Paris, and London every other week.
- Mental Headspace: Sources told E! News they were in "different places physically and mentally."
- The Lyme Factor: Bella has been very vocal about her struggle with chronic Lyme disease. Managing a high-profile, high-stress relationship while dealing with a chronic illness is a lot for anyone, let alone a 22-year-old.
They officially split in August 2019. Since then, Bella has moved on to more low-key romances, like her long-term relationship with art director Marc Kalman and her current life with equestrian Adan Banuelos in Texas. Abel, meanwhile, turned the entire relationship into the sonic landscape of After Hours.
Reading Between the Lyrics
If you want to know what really happened, listen to "Save Your Tears" or "Escape from L.A."
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In "Escape from L.A.," Abel literally mentions "Chrome Hearts hangin' from her neck"—a direct nod to Bella’s collaboration with the brand. The lyrics describe a relationship fueled by "fantasies" and "money to compensate." It’s an apology in song form. He admits to being "the hardest to love."
Most experts—and by experts, I mean the fans who spent hours deconstructing the After Hours short film—believe the album is a 14-track confession of regret. He was running away from reality, and he lost the one person who knew Abel, not just The Weeknd.
What Most People Get Wrong
There’s this idea that their breakup was some toxic explosion. In reality, they remained on "good terms" for a long time. They even celebrated her 23rd birthday together post-breakup.
The "toxicity" people project onto them usually comes from the lyrics, which are stylized and dramatic. Real life was quieter. It was two young, incredibly famous people who grew up and realized they weren't the same people they were at Coachella in 2015.
The Bottom Line
The Weeknd and Bella Hadid represent a specific moment in the late 2010s when celebrity romance felt more like a curated aesthetic than a private life. While they aren't together in 2026, their impact on music and fashion remains.
If you're looking to understand the nuance of their story, don't just look at the tabloids. Look at the timeline of their careers. They both reached the absolute peak of their industries while trying to hold onto each other. Sometimes, the "right person, wrong time" trope is actually true.
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Next Steps for Fans:
- Re-listen to "After Hours": Specifically "Hardest to Love" and "Scared to Live." These tracks offer the most vulnerable look into his perspective on the breakup.
- Check the Credits: Look at the "In the Night" music video again. It’s the best visual representation of their early chemistry.
- Observe the Shift: Note how Bella’s public persona changed post-2019, moving away from the "pop star girlfriend" trope and into serious health advocacy and equestrian life.