Ariana Grande Is Being Made an Honorary Citizen of Manchester
Ariana Grande and the people of Manchester will forever share a bond formed by the heartbreaking bombing that killed 22 and injured over a hundred more at her concert in May. After the singer returned to the city for her One Love Manchester benefit concert and received a bee tattoo as a permanent reminder of those we lost, the city has decided to make Grande an honorary citizen.
According to the BBC, the city of Manchester has proposed a new system that will recognize those who have made an outstanding contribution to the city, and Grande is said to be the first recipient under consideration.
“This seems a fitting moment to update the way we recognize those who make noteworthy contributions to the life and success of our city,” said council leader Sir Richard Leese. He may have been referring, at least in part, to the One Love Manchester concert, which drew a crowd of 50,000 people while raising almost $4 million for victims and their families.
He added, “We’ve all had cause to be incredibly proud of Manchester and the resilient and compassionate way in which the city, and all those associated with it, have responded to the terrible events of 22 May [the night of the bombing] — with love and courage rather than hatred and fear.”
His statement reflects Ariana Grande’s own feelings that “we will not quit or operate in fear. We won’t let this divide us. We won’t let hate win.”
What do you think about Ariana Grande being made an honorary citizen of Manchester? Let us know @BritandCo!
(h/t BBC; photos via Handout/Getty)
