During a very special point in his “Utopia – Circus Maximus” tour stop in Sydney, Australia, Travis Scott was giving a concert when he stopped the entire show to publicly thank The Weeknd for helping to get his career off the ground. This emotional tribute, executed in a packed and energetic full house, spoke volumes regarding their professional history, focusing on a deep, personal bond between the two superstars.
With the dimming lights of the stage and the soft music, Travis took time to address the roaring audience in Sydney. His voice was full of gratitude as the sound reverberated in the arena:
“This man right here gave me my first arena tour ever … If it wasn’t for him, I probably wouldn’t be on this stage right now.” T
he heartily delivered words from Scott were referencing The Weeknd’s 2015 “The Madness Fall Tour,” where Travis was given the chance to open for the chart-topping star.
Which may mean that their relationship is far beyond music.
By then, Scott was an emerging artist searching his way to the mainstream. Performing as the opening act for The Weeknd gave him a chance to perform in front of besar and diverse audiences, boosting his visibility significantly and setting up his meteoric rise in the following years. Travis further nailed this deep admiration when he referred to The Weeknd as
“a brother for life,”
The reasons why the moment connected with the fans spoke volumes when the mass of people in Sydney erupted in explosive applause. Sincerity in Travis’s tribute appeared to touch the audience, which was already buzzing from this show’s dynamic of energy. It went viral on social media almost immediately as the artist publicly acknowledged the personal and professional debt he owed to The Weeknd. Travis was humbled, and fans went on to praise him for his humility and openness, noting how seldom such big-name artists openly show their gratitude.
But, in reality, the tribute was only one of many of the crazy moments that went down during the Sydney leg of Travis Scott’s “Utopia – Circus Maximus” tour: an explosive show he is known for, replete with dazzling visual effects, pyrotechnics, and state-of-the-art lighting that made light work of the place. The setlist headlines hits from his latest album Utopia, plus a catalog of fan favorites like “HYAENA” and “FE!N” that get the crowd in a frenzy. Synergy between Travis and his audience is so thick you could cut it with a knife as they literally hang onto his every word, dance move, and beat drop.
Travis Scott and The Weeknd aren’t just products of parallel experiences; musical collaborations between them run deep. Throughout the years, they have collaborated on several great tracks together, such as “Pray 4 Love” off of Rodeo and “Wake Up” off of Astroworld. Of course, each is becoming a fan favorite as it uniquely couples The Weeknd’s haunted vocals with Travis’s raw, energetic delivery. Their ability to successfully mesh their unique styles has seamlessly produced some of the most memorable sounds in modern-day hip-hop and R&B.
That tour Travis spoke about in 2015 marked a turning point. At the time, he was still relatively unknown to the mainstream, joining The Weeknd on a career-defining journey. Night in and night out, Travis was allowed to hone his craft in front of thousands and gained confidence, majorly sharpening his performance skills. By the end of that tour, Scott was no longer the up-and-comer but rather a star in his own right, which primed him for further success with albums like Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight and Astroworld.
The warmth and authenticity of Travis Scott‘s tribute didn’t just ripple throughout the arena but literally around the world. In droves, the fans logged onto social media to share clips of the moment and praise Travis for his emotional honesty.
“This is what real friendship looks like,”
One tweeted, while others praised Scott for giving them a shout-out in an industry that too often functions on ego. That tribute had ripples well beyond Sydney to audiences worldwide who knew full well what they were witnessing in that moment.
The Weeknd is a towering figure in modern music, having moved and supported many artists. Still, Travis’s acknowledgment made their personal relationship clear, reminding audiences of the collaborative spirit that marks much of the modern music industry.
