Ariana Grande Returns To Manchester, 12 Days After Attack

Ariana Grande has once again taken the stage in Manchester almost two weeks after a terrorist attack outside her concert killed 22 and injured over 100 people, . Wearing a sweatshirt that read “One Love Manchester,” the singer opened her performance with her hit song “Be Alright,” followed by “Break Free.”

Ahead of the concert, Grande visited the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, where many of her young fans are being treated. The singer became emotional as she recalled meeting the mother of victim Olivia Campbell who died in the deadly explosion. She said “As soon as I met her I started crying and I gave her a big hug and she said I should stop crying because Olivia would have wanted me to stop crying, and she said Olivia would have wanted to hear the hits.”

The mood at the concert was especially somber after a terrorist attack in London occurred less than 24 hours ahead of the concert. Despite the attack and the severe threat level, Grande’s manager Scooter Braun and the Greater Manchester Police had stated that the show would go on as a message of resilience in the face of hatred.

Along with Grande was Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Pharrell Williams, Usher, Take That, Coldplay, Niall Horan, Robbie Williams, and Black Eyed Peas are set to perform Grande later returned to the stage to sing her duet “Better Days” with singer Victoria Monet. She also sang “Where Is the Love” alongside the Black Eyed Peas. Her boyfriend Mac Miller also joined her on stage for a surprise performance of “Dang!”

Grande closed out the show with an emotional performance of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

All proceeds from the concert which is expected to bring in around $2.6 million are going to the Red Cross’s Manchester Emergency Fund to help victims and families impacted by the attack. Those who were at the original gig were offered free tickets, and additional tickets sold out in just six minutes.

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