'It is unbelievable how May 22, 2017, started last year in Manchester!' Joan wrote on Twitter.'Who would ever have imagined the horrors that awaited us all.. one year later I look to the strength of Manchester with a bowed head, and love in my heart! At home, last night, all together & grateful!' Joan is pictured leaning on the piano in the foreground, while Ariana gets a cuddle from a friend in the background. Earlier this month, Ariana credited Joan as her 'mom and dad, a best friend, an inspiration, a comedian, a healer, a genius and a brilliant example of a woman.'
On Tuesday, Ariana's mother paid a simple tribute, writing: 'All my love, Manchester...' The singer herself also posted a special message on Monday night to mark the first anniversary the following day. The singer, 24, tweeted: 'Thinking of you all today and every day. I love you with all of me and am sending you all of the light and warmth I have to offer on this challenging day.'
In an interview with Time magazine published last week, Ariana described the Manchester terror attack as the 'worst of humanity.'On May 22 of last year, a terrorist detonated an explosive device as fans were leaving her concert in Manchester killing 22 people and injuring more than 500. Recalling the tragic incident, she admitted that she didn't want her fans to think that 'something like that had won' yet still found it 'very painful' herself. 'Music is supposed to be the safest thing in the world. I think that’s why it’s still so heavy on my heart every single day,'she said.
Speaking to the Big Questions with Cal Fussman podcast, Scooter revealed the singer 'cried for days' and she struggled with the decision of keeping her Dangerous Woman tour going.'When she found out that fans of hers had died she was so sad,' Scooter recalled.'She cried for days, she felt everything - every face they announced, every name, she wore on her sleeve. Every bit of emotion because that’s who she is.'Following the devastating terror attack, Ariana took to the stage in Manchester at the Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground to host her star-studded One Love benefit concert.
It was held in aid of the victims and all families that suffered in the wake of the bombing that took place moments after Ariana had finished her performance that fateful night. Ariana was joined by a slew of global superstars for the benefit gig, including Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Pharrell Williams, the Black Eyed Peas, Little Mix and Robbie Williams. All artists performed for free, while Live Nation has covered the costs of the concert.
In Manchester on Tuesday, bells rang out at 10.31pm to mark the exact moment 22 lives were snuffed out one year ago. Earlier, tens of thousands joined in song to remember the victims of the Manchester Arena attack, and in the afternoon Manchester came to a standstill for minute's silence a year after the tragedy.
The victims were (top row left to right) Elaine McIver, 43, Saffie-Rose Roussos, 8, Sorrell Leczkowski, 14, Eilidh MacLeod, 14, (second row left to right) Nell Jones, 14, Olivia Campbell-Hardy, 15, Megan Hurley, 15, Georgina Callander, 18, (third row left to right), Chloe Rutherford, 17, Liam Curry, 19, Courtney Boyle, 19, and Philip Tron, 32, (fourth row left to right) John Atkinson, 26, Martyn Hett, 29, Kelly Brewster, 32, Angelika Klis, 39, (fifth row left to right) Marcin Klis, 42, Michelle Kiss, 45, Alison Howe, 45, and Lisa Lees, 43 (fifth row left to right) Wendy Fawell, 50 and Jane Tweddle, 51.