"I'm writing to you this February 22, 2018. It's been eight months since the attack at our show at the Manchester Arena. It's impossible to know where to start or to know what to say about this part. May 22, 2017, will leave me speechless and filled with questions for the rest of my life," the letter read.
Grande praised the spirit of the people of Manchester and the families of the fans and the victims of the terror attack perpetrated by the 22-year-old Salman Abedi. The explosion occurred outside the Manchester Arena at the end of Grande's concert, and the Daesh* terror organisation claimed responsibility for the attack.
"When something so opposite and so poisonous takes place in your world that is supposed to be everything but that… it is shocking and heartbreaking in a way that seems impossible to fully recover from," Grande said in her letter.
The singer was not physically hurt during the attack but suffered from a post-traumatic stress disorder afterwards, like several hundred who attended her concert on May 22.
"Music is an escape. Music is the safest thing I've ever known. Music — pop music, stan culture — is something that brings people together, introduces them to some of their best friends, and makes them feel like they can be themselves. It is comfort. It is fun. It is expression. It is happiness. It is the last thing that would ever harm someone. It is safe," the singer said in her letter.
Grande's followers online reacted to her emotional message:
Words can't really explain how much @ArianaGrande means to all of us she been through so much she has came out so strong just watching this documentary made me love her more 💗 I'm proud to Stan her #DangerousWomanDiaries I love you more pic.twitter.com/gk8rtVLpGx
— kaylamedlin (@kaylareneemedd) November 29, 2018
"music, pop music, stan culture is something that brings people together, introduces them to some of their best friends and makes them feel like they can be themselves." im crying. @ArianaGrande
— aims (@touchedher) November 29, 2018
you make me the happiest. always.
— juli (@willfulariana) November 29, 2018
YOU'RE AN ANGEL ♥️ pic.twitter.com/3YTmmbTuEU
— 🇲🇽Lizbeth🇲🇽 (@LizTomlinsonHor) November 29, 2018
"I think of Manchester constantly and will carry this with me every day for the rest of my life" the pop star's letter concluded.
On June 4, 2017 Grande returned to Manchester to perform in a benefit concert and pay tribute to those affected by the attack.
READ MORE: US Pop Star Ariana Grande Returns to Manchester for Benefit Concert Sunday
A recent report by the UK Intelligence and Security Committee revealed Salman Abedi had been flagged for review, but MI5's systems were too slow to review him, which allowed the terrorist to execute the attack on 22 May 2017.
READ MORE: MI5 Made Mistakes Ahead of Manchester Bombing — Report
