Ariana Grande performed before a jubilant crowd of some 50,000 in Manchester on Sunday, less than 24 hours after a deadly terror attack in the heart of London.
The “One Love Manchester” benefit concert by Grande and other pop stars went on as planned in the UK city, which is still recovering from a suicide bombing at Grande’s show there two weeks ago.
Between songs, an emotional Grande addressed the crowd.
“Before we go any further I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for being here today,” she said. “I want to thank you so much for coming together and being so loving and strong and unified. I love you guys so much and I think that the kind of love and unity you’re displaying is the kind of medicine that the world really needs right now.”
Officials said security was bolstered for the concert, which aims to raise money for those affected by the bombing that killed 22 people and wounded more than 100 at Grande’s May 22 show.
A litany of stars signed on for the benefit, including Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Coldplay, Pharrell Williams, Usher and the Black Eyed Peas.
The show opened to a minute of silence and a performance by Marcus Mumford of Mumford and Suns.
Mumford urged the crowd to “not be afraid.”
Grande’s manager, Scooter Braun, thanked the crowd for coming out and paid tribute to the victims before introducing the singer. Deafening cheers greeted Grande as she took the stage.
Before she began her performance, pop star Katy Perry urged the crowd to “choose love.”
“It’s not easy to always choose love, is it? Especially in moments like these, right? It can be the most difficult thing to do. But love conquers fear and love conquers hate,” she said. “I encourage you to choose love, even when it’s difficult. Let no one take that away from you.”
The sentiment was echoed by fellow pop star Justin Bieber, who said “You guys are so brave. … Would you agree that love always wins?”
‘Determined to carry on’
Some fans questioned whether Sunday’s show would go on after three men drove a van into a crowd on a London bridge Saturday night before leaping out and stabbing numerous people in nearby bars and restaurants. Seven people were killed and 48 injured in the attack.
Grande’s management answered doubts on Twitter, just hours before the concert.
“All artists involved have been unwavering in their support this morning and are determined to carry on with the show. We ask the strong city of Manchester and the world to join us in making the statement that hatred and fear will never win,” Braun said.
He went on to encourage fans to keep their concert plans, “and in tribute to all those affected here and around the world, we will bring our voices together and sing loudly,”
As details emerged of Saturday’s terror incident, Grande responded with a tweet: “Praying for London.”
As of late Sunday morning few of the other performers had tweeted in response to the London attack. But all had stated their commitment to the benefit concert in the week leading up to the show.
“Despite all the things that have been going on…I don’t feel or smell or hear or see any fear in this building,” Pharrell Williams said while singing a duet of “Happy” with Miley Cyrus.
Heightened security
Manchester authorities warned that everyone going to the concert would be searched, and the presence of armed police would be visible inside and outside the venue.
The Greater Manchester Police said more than 130,000 people were expected in the area for the benefit concert as well as a soccer match.
“There are two large-scale events taking place in Greater Manchester today and we would like to assure people that these will still take place, but with additional security in place to ensure the safety of everyone,” Greater Manchester Police Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan said in a statement on Sunday.
Grande’s concert was held at Emirates Old Trafford, an outdoor stadium about 3.5 miles from Manchester Arena, where the May 22 concert took place.
Greater Manchester Police Chief Superintendent Stuart Ellison said there would be a “significant number of officers” at the venue and encouraged people to leave bags at home.
Fans still hospitalized
Grande surprised young fans injured in last month’s attack with a visit to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital on Friday.
The singer shared a photo to Instagram of herself meeting with a young girl, Jaden Mann.
Jaden also shared pictures of the pop star at her bedside.
“Ariana brought everyone a sunflower and a teddy bear,” Lauren Thorpe told CNN. “It was unbelievable.”
Thorpe’s eight-year-old daughter, Lily, suffered a shrapnel wound in her back and is recovering from surgery.
Also on Friday, Grande met privately with some of those who lost loved ones in the May 22 attack, including parents of Martyn Hett, 29, and Courtney Boyle, 19.
‘Music will heal us’
Grande canceled upcoming shows in London and Switzerland to prepare for Sunday’s “One Love Manchester” concert.
She had just left the stage May 22 when a suicide bomber detonated a nail bomb outside the arena as people were streaming out of the venue.
Within days, the singer posted a message of defiance and announced plans to return to Manchester for the benefit show.
“Our response to this violence must be to come closer together, to help each other, to love more, to sing louder and to live more kindly and generously than we did before,” Grande said. “Music is meant to heal us, to bring us together, to make us happy. So that is what it will continue to do for us.”
