Manchester, England has nothing but love for singer Ariana Grande, so much so that they have made her their first-ever honorary citizen.
As you remember, the 24-year-old singer organized a benefit show, called One Love Manchester, to raise funds for the victims and families affected when a bomber struck at her May 22 show, killing 22 and leaving 250 injured. The benefit, held on June 4, included performances by Ariana, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry and Ariana’s beau Mac Miller. They raised over $13 million for the Red Cross’ Manchester Emergency Fund.
Manchester’s city council leader Richard Leese proposed Ariana’s honorary citizenship on Wednesday to thank her for her “outstanding contribution” to the city. Before the vote, he told the city council, “It would have been understandable if [Grande] had never wanted to see this place again. But she determined she would not to perform again until she had returned to Manchester. In doing so she brought comfort to thousands, she raised millions for the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund.” Not surprisingly, the proposal passed unanimously.
Manc Council unanimously supports a motion to create a new honorary citizenship for Ariana Grande. @ArianaGrande @joangrande @FrankieJGrande pic.twitter.com/ITn2qrgmKh
— elizabeth ♡ (@arianasthread) July 12, 2017
Ariana, who even got a bee tattoo, the symbol of Manchester, to honor the victims, shared the news on Thursday via her Instagram account. She told fans “I don’t know what to say. Words don’t suffice. I’m moved and honored. My heart is very much still there. I love you. Thank you.”
I think all of us here at Celebitchy did a 180 on Ariana thanks to her philanthropic efforts and everything she did for Manchester. And I can even now admit that I’ve been known to belt out quite a rendition of “Break Free” when I’m driving in my car. She deserves this honor, for sure. Congratulations.
Photos: Getty Images, WENN.com
I have a friend who lives in the north of England who has a pop-obsessed little girl. Manchester is where they go for gigs. And she says the We Love Manchester benefit has been such a help in her child’s peer group. Rather than the arena being seen as a place of danger where everyone is afraid to go, it’s back to being a badge of honour to have been there.
That’s worth its weight in gold, right?
It really is. We have to take back the places where they harm us. Proclaim them ours and fill them with love.
Exactly.
The brilliant response by the family of Martyn Hett has also done a lot of good. So many people who had never met him – or his knitting mum! – were so fond of him and I think that family were wonderful, too.
I meant to say above – glad Manchester acknowledged Grande. Just think – a silly pop princess and her manager knew more about bringing healing to a community and did more to achieve it than the entire British establishment, including the Prime Minister, was able to muster in the wake of the Grenfell fire. The contrast couldn’t be more stark.
This is absolutely lovely to hear.
That’s so lovely to hear.
Yes, indeed! What, is that something in my eye? Sniff.
Right. Not so silly after all. When people show you who they are, believe them–turns out she’s growing up pretty well. And as for May and her ilk, as we say back home, she certainly showed herself, didn’t she? Or even more vulgarly, she (May) really showed her a** in public.
Tragedy either breaks us down or makes us rise up. Ariana certainly seems to have risen up in the wake of Manchester. This, by far, eclipses the donut licking and being carried everywhere. I don’t know that we’ll see that behavior from her again. She’s done immense good with her Manchester reaction.
+1
Agreed hopefully this gave her perspective because she was known for being quite the diva. I thought she was eloquent and brave in the wake of such a traumatic event
I think it shows that you can be a diva and a spoiled brat and still rise to the occasion. It just doesn’t mean you don’t have a good heart. She’s a reminder that if we’re going to judge people, we should judge them on how they rise to life’s challenges.
Agreed. And yes diva does not mean inherently good person. I think good people can do bad things (and by bad I don’t mean murder or anything heinous). I just thought she was ungrateful much like her brother.
She rose to the occasion and i’ve said as much since the bombing. Her mother as well who protected fans in the moment.
I think this may be a seminal moment for Ari.
She’s had a taste of what truly helping others is like, and I think this is going to change her tragectory.
She’s been nothing but brave and strong and committed when other wanted her weak and undecided. Slow clap for this girl, showing the world that young women are not the stereotype, and showing her fans that they do not need to be afraid.
I live in Manchester, about a mile from the arena. I’m also a doctor (anaesthetist) and treated some of the people injured in the attack.
I have heard many people with teen daughters talk about the positive impact Ariana has had on stopping people from feeling scared.
Having said that, I’m still not convinced that most adults know who she is. The bee has been a symbol of manchester for a long time (we even had it on our wedding invitations as we got married in the town hall) and Manchester has always been a city that has a really strong identity and community spirit.
I just hope that honouring Ariana doesn’t take away from the “ordinary” people who were there that night- opening their homes to strangers and protecting one another as best they could. In my eyes they are the ones who should have been honoured.
I just came back from Manchester and the city felt alive, bustling, upbeat. My second time there this year and I love it. I was so impressed with Ariana Grande’s One Love Manchester concert, she celebrated the city and the people and honored MCR’s history as one of the great music centers of the world. She got out there and sang all day long with the many performers, she didn’t just come out at the end and do a “set.” She was a true host of that party and the party was to re-establish Manchester as a brilliant, safe, and wonderful place where millions of people come every year to experience joy and togetherness and wonder. Good for her, and good for Manchester, and good for music and love, and boo to terrorism.