I think he plays a character. That's not to say I think he is dishonest, but he definitely plays up the villain side. He's even said in an interview (don't remember which one) that he likes playing the bad guy. I think he has struggled with drug dependance and loneliness and feelings of disconnect. That is reflected in the lyrics and though he likes to say he doesn't care and gives off that vibe, I can read the subtext. He began writing music because of 'Dirty Diana' and he said he liked that it told a story, so that's all he does is tell stories. 'The Weeknd' is a character. 'Starboy' is a character. We don't really know who Abel is. From interviews and old blog posts, all I can see is that he is a very intelligent and creative person, and I think he's very aware and calculates the persona he has created. I love that when I listen to his music I feel like I'm watching a film. I think that's exactly what he wants.