Following the terrorist attack on Ariana Grande’s concert in Manchester on Monday night, Grande made a minimal statement on Twitter. She followed it up on Friday by announcing a benefit concert in a long note to her followers.
Grande’s statement begins with a very broad promise to be there for the people of Manchester who attended her concert:
My heart, prayers and deepest condolences are with the victims of the Manchester Attack and their loved ones. There is nothing I or anyone can do to take away the pain you are feeling or to make this better. However I extend my hand and heart and everything I possibly can give to you and yours, should you want or need my help in any way.
She continues with a message about the importance of music, a celebration of diversity at her concerts, and comments on how inspiring it has been to see people come together following a tragedy. She asks that people’s response to violence be to “to love more, to sing louder and to live more kindly and generously than we did before.”
Grande indicates that not only will she be returning to manchester to perform again, but that she may be bringing other artists to join her for a benefit concert:
I’ll be returning to the incredibly brave city of Manchester to spend time with my fans and to have a benefit concert in honor of and to raise money for the victims and their families. I want to thank my fellow musicians and friends for reaching out to be a part of our expression of love for Manchester. I will have details to share with you as soon as everything is confirmed.
Grande then shared a link to a crowdfunding page for victims, in association with the British Red Cross, which is close to raising £2,000,000:
“We will continue in honor of the ones we lost, their loved ones, my fans and all affected by this tragedy,” Grande ended her note. “They will be on my mind and in my heart everyday and I will think of them with everything I do for the rest of my life.”