Fans and critics widely believe the song and its visual narrative are directed at his ex-girlfriend, Selena Gomez . The lyrics express feelings of being used and discarded, with the video’s lonely, "frozen" world illustrating the state of someone whose love was unappreciated. Notably, the song samples Nicolas Jaar’s 2016 track "Killing Time," which adds to its atmospheric, slowed-down tempo.
Directed by long-time collaborator Grant Singer , the video captures the singer's return to his "brooding self". The production involved a high-level creative team including: Alexis Zabe the_weeknd_call_out_my_name_official_video
In a striking moment during the chorus, bats explode from his throat, a visual representation of the raw pain being "called out". Fans and critics widely believe the song and
The video begins with Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd) wandering a deserted road at dusk. Directed by long-time collaborator Grant Singer , the
The landscape is populated by frozen animals and a creepy bird-human hybrid peering from a balcony, adding to the "haunted" atmosphere.
The video is a trippy, gothic exploration of heartbreak and isolation. It moves through several surreal settings that mirror the emotional weight of the lyrics: