To think Ariana Grande is fucking amazing for doing this concert

[Bearbehind]

Whatever the reason the Manchester bomber chose her concert to commit his atrocity must play on her mind so it takes some serious balls to come out and do this.

I've never heard of any of her songs though!

An amazing young woman. She looked extremely emotional all the way through tonight (understandably!) She should be really proud of herself (and her team) for being able to pull off something so impressive in such a short space of time

So bloody what if it was done for publicity? That publicity will raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for the appeal. I bet that's more than any of the snarky bitches on here have done.

Also, why is no one complaining about other the acts doing it for publicity?

I agree the publicity will probably benefit her, however I doubt this is the reason she performed tonight.

TBH she is famous and rich enough already, she really didn't need to put herself through this.

She is a decent young woman, doing the best she can, she's well known for really looking after her fans and having a huge heart.

Must've been very hard for her tonight, she could quite easily have stayed home and done nothing, but that's really not her style, she has always given generously of herself to her fans.

She did really good tonight and kudos to her for doing this.

Will all be forgotten tomorrow, sadly, and for London Bridge too. How quickly we move on.

The world keeps on turning.

Deepest sympathy to Manchester and London and all that went before.

Obviously it's not me with hate and negativity inside.

It really is.

It really is.

I didn't know you knew me so personally.

Father, is that you?

I bet Ariana would be happier if the majority of the U.K still didn't know who she was, and 22 people were still alive.

It doesn't take someone close to see what you have displayed so publically, "Rainbow"

Raah I agree, I think it will have been emotionally costly to her to go back and I don't think it would be immediately healing at all, she must just still wonder why her, why her concert.

The concert itself was very touching and when you looked at the crowd's faces, they told their own story about whether it was the right thing to do for them, which I think it was.

I really thought the concert was being held too soon but having watched it, I feel it might be just what Manchester needed! I'm sure it lifted their spirits and makes them feel empowered ! Well Ariane and Co !

'Rainbow' time to take your bitterness and go to bed now, nobody is interested in hatred and cynicism.

You've got Daddy Issues then, Rainbow ?

So have I. But I turned away from the cuntery. Try it.

I had heard of Ariana Grande before the attack, although couldn't have named one of her tunes, or told you what her style of music was.

My first thought - in relation to her - after the attack was that she wasn't big enough / well-known enough to be able to get past this, and it was potentially career-ending.

I sort of figured that she would forever be associated with a terrible event, and would be tarnished in people's minds, as it were.

I'm afraid the cynic in me does think that her PR people have gone into utter over-drive to turn this around, and do anything to maximise the publicity opportunity, and create an image of her in people's minds. She's now a household name - that opportunity has been grasped and run with.

This is in no way a reflection of her. She does seem like a nice, caring person. But I think the many, many people behind the scenes with a vested (financial) interest have been working their arses off to turn this around. It's not all altruistic, and I can see why that does sit a little uncomfortably with some people (I do not lump Piers Morgan in here - he is an utter turd).

Slightly surprised to read upthread about the almost pornographic nature of some of her lyrics, when her fan base seems so young. Really?

No, you're not, it's a great thing to do. I love that there was a huge celebration, commemoration of the victims and collective "fuck you" to the depraved nihilists who are trying to sow hate and fear and division.

Something confused me in the run-up, though. Now, I didn't watch. It's not my kind of music and I'm not a huge one for collective grieving. But could someone who watched it put my mind to rest, please? Tell me this "bigger than Live Aid event broadcast to 38 countries" did something to commemorate or acknowledge the hundreds of victims of terror in other countries? Nearly 200 since Manchester alone, and nobody will raise cash for them or stage a concert in their name? There was some acknowledgement that we're not uniquely brave, uniquely resilient, uniquely worthy of the world's attention, surely?
Thanks!

SoupDragon I haven't said anything hateful about her or the event.

Just that she is a popstar and the event was likely orchestrated by the suits in her management.

She's still very young in this game (signed for what 4/5 years? Age 23) and it's unlikely if her management said no, let's move on, she would have gone ahead with the concert.

Nor have I verbally abused anyone. Can't say the same for the posters who have directed their replies to me.

Says more about them that they can't come up with anything better than calling me nasty, bitter, hateful etc. They must be incredibly tedious in conversations where everyone doesn't agree with them.

I've been aware of her for a few years and I've been quite critical of her tbh. I don't like her look (overtly schoolgirl cutesy sexy) and her videos are exactly the sort of thing i don't want my young ds seeing. I've also heard she's quite the diva.

But, she is definitely a victim too and as much as i thought it was too soon also, I agree that it was fab and just right.

Re what i said above about her image, it's a shame that most female pop artists seem to go through a scantily clad, sexy dancing phase.

Miley, little mix, kylie, britney, christina, rhianna, katy perry. Taylor not SO much but the media so obsessed with who she's with still etc. In contrast the blokes couldn't be wearing more clothes.

I'm not slut shaming, it's just a pity that that is all the music videos are full of.

Stop digging that hole, Rainbow. You're entitled to think what you like but not everyone thinks like you and frankly I'll give Ariana the benefit of the doubt as she has actually helped some people feel a tiny, tiny better. Your theory may be right but WHO CARES??

Before the bombing, I'd heard her name. I don't live under a rock but I couldn't have named one of her songs. Two weeks before the concert younger members of my family played me some of her music because they were so excited about going to see her. One was injured that night, both saw things that noone should ever see. Ariana Grande must wonder why her concert. I was at an Iron Maiden concert two weeks before. They are a far bigger world wide name. It was sold our. So why her show? It will stay with her forever.

She was visibly emotional tonight. I hope she has someone giving her loads of hugs now.

As a proud Mancunian I think she had done herself and Manchester proud. There is no need for negativity tonight. Love, not hate. Thank you Ariana.

I completely understand people being skeptical about the motives of pop acts and/or their management at a time like this.

What I cannot stand is this idea that a few individuals are being 'realistic' and 'thinking critically' while the rest of us are sheep going along with the party line. As if everyone else is too stupid to have considered those things.

I hope people realise it is entirely possible to be aware of potential PR motives but at the same time appreciate the massive positive effect of this gig for Manchester/young people/the country. It's not a zero sum game and whatever Ariana Grande's manager might have been thinking doesn't negate her obvious emotion and bravery tonight.

There really isn't anything wrong with trying to see the best in people, especially right now.

She's very brave. I applaud her.

bet Ariana would be happier if the majority of the U.K still didn't know who she was, and 22 people were still alive.

^ this

Good job!

Well, while I do think that on the whole it's the publicity machine of these artists who pull the strings and make these events happen, so what? Bob Geldoff and Bonno have been doing it for decades, and people are still giving them money. And if that money goes to the right cause and there needs to be a figure head for that cause does it matter who it is or how they're represented?

If people don't like it they don't have to watch it, surely?

I don't doubt for a second that this must have been an incredibly emotional thing for Ariana Grande to have to do. Because whichever way you look at it, if she's there through her own actions then she's decided to come back just two weeks later and stand up publicly to these bastards, and if she's a cog in the machine then she's having to perform and stand up publicly to these bastards, in a place where 22 of her fans were murdered just weeks before. Whatever else people think of her she is still a human being, however much people think that these musicians are just puppets trained to dance to the cause.