Ariana Grande & Celebs Return To Manchester For One Love Manchester Benefit Concert

Ariana Grande returned to Manchester for a benefit concert following the deadly bombing at her last concert on May 22.

MANCHESTER BENEFIT CONCERT PROGRAM

Grande and a host of celebrities performed the One Love Manchester benefit in front of a 50,000 person crowd on Sunday. Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Coldplay, Pharrell Williams, Usher, and the Black Eyed Peas were among the cast of performers. Proceeds from the concert are going to help those affected by the bombing, which killed 22 people an wounded dozens more.

“I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for being here today,” Grande said to the crowd. “I want to thank you so much for coming together and being so loving and strong and unified. I love you guys so much and I think that the kind of love and unity you’re displaying is the kind of medicine that the world really needs right now.”

Perry urged the fans to “choose love.” “It’s not easy to always choose love, is it?” she asked. “Especially in moments like these, right? It can be the most difficult thing to do. But love conquers fear and love conquers hate. I encourage you to choose love, even when it’s difficult. Let no one take that away from you.”

Grande performed the most of the celebs, doing her own songs as well as Manchester band Oasis’ “Don’t Look Back in Anger.” This song has become an anthem for the city in the wake of the tragedy. Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher joined Coldplay on stage for a surprise appearance of “Live Forever.” Grande closed out the show with “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

The One Love Manchester benefit concert comes less than 24 hours after another terrible attack in the UK – a bombing in the heart of London, at London Bridge, that killed 7.

Manchester armed police were seen inside and outside the venue, and every person entering the venue were thoroughly searched. “There are two large-scale events taking place in Greater Manchester today and we would like to assure people that these will still take place, but with additional security in place to ensure the safety of everyone,” said Greater Manchester Police Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan.

The One Love Manchester concert took place in an outdoor stadium, Emirates Old Trafford, about 3.5 miles away from Manchester Arena.