Ariana Grande leads online reaction to Manchester attack
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) — Pop star Ariana Grande said on Monday she was “broken” five hours after a bombing killed 19 people and wounded dozens of others at her concert in Manchester, England.
Making her first comment since an explosion detonated just outside Manchester Arena at the end of her performance there, Grande said on Twitter: “Broken. From the bottom of my heart, I am so so sorry. I don’t have words.”
Representatives for Grande have said that the 23-year-old pop star was physically “okay” following the blast, which British authorities say was being treated as a terrorist attack.
Grande was performing in Manchester during the European leg of a concert tour to support her latest album, “Dangerous Woman.”
She was scheduled to perform at London’s O2 arena on Thursday and then in Belgium, Poland and Germany in the coming weeks. .
Grande, who starred in the Broadway musical “13” and on the Nickelodeon TV series “Victorious” before releasing her solo debut album, is credited with having an exceptionally broad vocal range for a pop star.
She is best known for her singles “Problem,” and “Break Free” from her sophomore album “My Everything.”
The world’s biggest stars have also flocked to social media to pay tribute to the victims of the attack.
Singer Taylor Swift — who packs out arenas across the world — revealed she had been left devastated by the attack.
She wrote to her fans on Twitter: “My thoughts, prayers and tears for all those affected by the Manchester tragedy tonight. I’m sending all my love.”
Another star who is due to go out on a world tour later this year, Katy Perry, also responded on Twitter saying: “Praying for everyone at arianagrande’s show... Broken hearted for the families tonight. Broken hearted for Ari. Broken hearted for the state of this world.”
Former footballer David Beckham, who became a global sports superstar playing for Manchester United, posted on Facebook yesterday: “As a father and a human what has happened truly saddens me. My thoughts are with all of those that have been affected by this tragedy.”