Ariana Grande Pays Tribute to Manchester on the 1-Year Anniversary of the Attack
Ariana Grande is sending her love. One year after a deadly bombing took place at her Manchester concert, the singer marked the anniversary with a heartfelt tribute to the city and her fans.
“Thinking of you all today and every day,” the 24-year-old tweeted. “I love you with all of me and am sending you all of the light and warmth I have to offer on this challenging day.”
One year ago today, on May 22, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device in Manchester Arena following Grande’s concert, killing 22 (plus himself) and injuring hundreds more. The singer put her Dangerous Woman tour on hold following the tragic incident, taking time to visit fans in the hospital and, just two weeks later, returning to the city to throw a massive benefit concert for the victims and their families.
In her tweet marking the anniversary, Grande included the bee emoji, the symbol of the UK city — an image she has returned to again and again since the bombing occurred. Following the attack, Grande and several of her tour crew got bee tattoos in honor of the victims, and in the video for her new single “No Tears Left To Cry,” the winged insect flies into the final few frames of the clip.
thinking of you all today and every day 🐝 I love you with all of me and am sending you all of the light and warmth I have to offer on this challenging day
— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) May 22, 2018
Grande recently gave her first TV interview since the attack, appearing with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, where the host took a moment to praise Grande for her efforts in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy. “I just want to say thank you so much for coming on the show and for being strong, for entertaining, for showing up, for going back to Manchester and doing a benefit,” he said as Grande touched her hand to her heart. “I just think you’re so strong and so cool.”
According to the BBC, the anniversary will be marked with a series of memorial events in Manchester.
(photo via Getty Images/Dave Hogan for One Love Manchester)