Superfan Breaks World Record, Meets The Weeknd

Karla O'Brien's encyclopedic knowledge of The Weeknd's music just changed her life in the best possible way.

The American superfan claimed a Guinness World Record in July 2024 by identifying 31 of the artist's songs from their lyrics in just one minute. She answered so quickly that she often named songs before the quizzer finished reading the lyrics.

But breaking the record was only the beginning. Eight months later, Karla shattered her own achievement by correctly identifying 34 songs, then shared the news online.

That's when The Weeknd himself noticed. The star, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, reposted Karla's record announcement on both Instagram and X, bringing her incredible feat to millions of fans worldwide.

Then in early May, just days before her college graduation, Karla received an invitation to an early screening of The Weeknd's movie "Hurry Up Tomorrow." During the event, director Trey Edward Shults shocked the audience by announcing the artist would make a surprise appearance.

"When he came out, the room erupted with joy," Karla recalled. She not only watched the film alongside fellow superfans before its official release, but also exchanged words with Abel and captured a selfie together, her face beaming with pure happiness.

The magical night kicked off an unforgettable summer. Karla attended multiple sold-out shows on his After Hours Til Dawn tour, and at the Houston concert, her world record certificates were taken backstage and signed by The Weeknd himself.

Sunny's Take

This story captures something beautiful about passion and dedication. Karla didn't break a world record seeking fame or a meeting with her idol. She simply celebrated what she loved, and that authenticity opened doors she never imagined possible.

Her signed certificates now stand as her most prized possessions, tangible proof that genuine enthusiasm can lead to extraordinary moments.

Now Karla's looking forward to seeing The Weeknd headline five shows at London's Wembley Stadium this August, and she believes he'll break even more records in 2026.