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The Weeknd invests in OverActive Media the parent company of Toronto Defiant and Splyce

OverActive Media has announced that rapper Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, has joined its ownership group, becoming an investor in the esports organisation.

The new partnership will see Abel become the first Toronto Defiant and Splyce global ambassador and an important part of OAM’s brand and content building efforts across Canada and around the world.

Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, said in a news release:

“As a big esports fan, I am really excited to be involved in this project. I am looking forward to collaborating with OverActive Media in unique and innovative ways.”

OverActive Media is the parent company of the Overwatch League‘s Toronto Defiant and Splyce which has teams in League of Legends European Championship, Call of Duty World League, Rocket League, Starcraft and Smite. OAM is only one of five organisations in the world with permanent slots in both League of Legends and the Overwatch League.

Chris Overholt, CEO and President of OverActive Media, added:

“We are thrilled to be welcoming a global superstar like Abel to our investor family. Abel’s standing in the music industry will provide our Toronto Defiant and Splyce brands the opportunity to reach more fans and engage new audiences.”

The Weeknd joins a long list of celebrities who have recently invested into the esports scene. Last October, it was announced that rapper Drake and industry manager Scooter Braun joined esports organisation 100 Thieves as co-owners. Drake and Scooter Braun now act as strategic advisors for 100 Thieves, with Braun also joining the 100 Thieves Board of Directors.

It didn’t stop there for Drake, as he was recently announced among investors in a $3M funding round for Players’ Lounge, an online tournament platform. Other investors in the funding round included CEO of Take-Two Interactive, the former President and CEO of Yahoo, Comcast, Macro Ventures, Canaan, RRE, and Courtside.

Elsewhere, basketball players Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala were part of a group that invested $37 million into TSM and Micheal Jordan invested into competitive gaming company aXiomatic Gaming, owners of Team Liquid.