The Weeknd may have dropped out of high school, but he found his way onto a college campus on Thursday (May 15).
The “XO” singer and Jimmy Fallon surprised a group of graduating seniors at Fordham University in The Bronx and Abel blessed the students with a performance of a pair of his biggest smash hits to date with Billboard Hot 100-toppers “Blinding Lights” and “Can’t Feel My Face.”
Fallon was first introduced as a special guest DJ, as the kids had no idea The Weeknd was waiting behind closed doors in the back.
“I’ve never deejayed before in my life… I just figured it would be fun, because I love Fordham,” he said. Fallon then began playing “Blinding Lights” when Abel burst through the doors, which drew a roar from the crowd and sent the 200-person audience into a frenzy.
Fallon joined the performance, which featured a hilarious scene with The Weeknd dancing alongside the Fordham official mascot, Ramses the Ram.
The Weeknd made his couch debut on The Tonight Show later Thursday as he joined Jimmy Fallon for his first interview on the late-night staple.
The Toronto native joked he knew he’d get a great reaction from the crowd after hearing Fallon get cheers at the graduation event. “That was amazing,” The Weeknd said. “I didn’t expect it to be that crazy.”
Abel also hit the stage where he performed a pair of tracks from his Hurry Up Tomorrow album with “Open Hearts” and “Baptized in Fear.”
The Weeknd has been on a press run in support of his Hurry Up Tomorrow movie, which hit theaters on Friday (May 16). The psycho-thriller stars The Weeknd playing a fictionalized pop star version of himself alongside Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan, while Trey Edward Shults serves as director.
Watch the surprise performance at Fordham University and The Weeknd onstage on The Tonight Show below.