Ariana Grande’s Manchester benefit gig was bold, triumphant

Ariana Grande’s (right) One Love Manchester concert has proved no storm, no attack, will ever stop people from coming together as the pop diva’s gig was a successful show with an almost 50,000-strong crowd in attendance. The 23-year-old pop star, who had to leave Manchester after the horrific attack at her May 22 concert here, made sure that her return filled the entire city with joy and happiness once again. The evening saw some of the biggest names in the music world performing alongside the ‘Side to side’ hitmaker at Old Trafford stadium to help raise funds for the victims of the attack that claimed the lives of 22 people, including children. According to reports, a young girl, Lily Harrison, who was injured in last month’s Manchester Arena attack, also attended the show to see her favourite pop star performing at the event. Singer-actress Miley Cyrus’ performance was all about her friendship with Grande, who noted the ‘Bang bang’ hit-maker’s strength as a role model. Wearing a sweat shirt graffitied with the legend One Love Manchester, Grande showed up several times throughout the three-hour show alongside Coldplay, Black Eyed Peas and Little Mix to celebrate the fighting spirit of Manchester. She also talked about meeting the mother of a 15-year-old victim, Olivia Campbell, who died in the terrorist attack. “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,” she said. The concert also comes the day after attackers targeted the heart of London, killing seven people.