US pop singer Ariana Grande has revealed she will be returning to Manchester to hold a benefit concert and visit her injured fans.
The announcement comes just four days after a terror attack killed 22 people and injured 120 at Manchester Arena, where Grande had been performing to 21,000 people.
The 'Side to Side' hitmaker, who was heavily criticised by British broadcaster Piers Morgan on Friday (NZ time) for not staying in the country to visit and comfort victims of the suicide bombing, hinted that fellow musicians may join her for the concert.
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Grande posted the lengthy statement on Twitter, once again apologising for what occurred and praising her fans for the way they handled the situation.
"The compassion, kindness, love, strength and oneness that you've shown one another this past week is the exact opposite of the heinous intentions it must take to pull off something as evil as what happened Monday," the singer wrote.
"You are the opposite."
Grande noted that from the start of her Dangerous Woman tour, she intended for her concerts to be "a safe space for fans", where they could "escape, celebrate [and] heal" - and she said the attack wouldn't change that.
"We will not quit or operate in fear. We won't let this divide us. We won't let hate win," she wrote.
"I don't want to go the rest of the year without being able to see and hold and uplift my fans, the same way they continue to uplift me.
"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."
But as well as heartfelt condolences and a message of solidarity, Grande also announced she would be returning to Manchester, the city that hosted the tragedy, to play a one-off show and meet afflicted fans.
"I'll be returning to the incredibly brave city of Manchester to spend time with my fans and to have a benefit concert in honour of and to raise money for the victims and their families," she said.
"I want to thank my fellow musicians and friends for reaching out to be a part of our expression of love for Manchester.
"I will have details to share with you as soon as everything is confirmed."
Grande finished the statement by offering a tribute to those who'd lost their lives in the bomb blast.
"We will continue in honour of the ones we lost, their loved ones, my fans and all affected by this tragedy," she said.
"They will be on my mind and in my heart every day and I will think of them with everything I do for the rest of my life."
Newshub.
