Ariana Grande Permanently Memorializes Manchester Bombing Victims On Her Body

Ariana Grande will never forget the innocent people killed at her May 22 concert in Manchester, when Salman Abedi set off an improvised explosive device which killed 22 people and injured an additional 59. Since the incident, the singer organized a relief concert, raising more than $12 million, and now she’s honoring those affected in a different way.

According to ET Online, Grande got a tattoo as a permanent memorial of those who died and were injured in the Manchester bombing attack. She’s said to have gotten a bee tattooed on her, which is the symbol of the British city. The tattoo was done by the same artist who was inking people — including some members of the 23-year-old’s crew — in the greenroom at Grande’s One Love Manchester concert.

Read: Stream Ariana Grande’s One Love Manchester Charity Album

The “Side to Side” singer resumed her “Dangerous Woman” world tour on Wednesday with a show in Paris. Before taking the stage, she shared a sweet message with fans on Instagram, promising to carry the memory of the Manchester bombing victims with her through the remainder of her tour. Many flooded both Grande’s Instagram and Twitter accounts with positive, loving messages as she got back to work.

That same day, E! Online reported the award-winning musician released a live version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” which she performed for the first time during One Love Manchester. Fans had been urging her to do so, suggesting Grande donate all proceeds from downloads to Manchester relief efforts. She heard their pleas and acted quickly.

The song’s significance extends beyond Manchester into Grande’s personal life. Her mother, Joan Grande, told Variety her daughter dedicated the song to her grandfather after his passing. As such, she thought it would be a fitting tribute to those who died May 22.

“It’s an emotional story: my father passed away two and a half years ago, and that was the song she sang for him after he passed,” Joan explained.

Ariana arrived in Britain on June 2, two days before One Love Manchester. TMZ reported that she spent the days leading up to her big show--during which she was joined by the likes of Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, the Black Eyed Peas and more--meeting with Manchester bombing survivors and their families. She had one especially moving encounter with a family affected by the incident, which prompted her to tweak her set list.

During One Love Manchester, Grande revealed that she had the pleasure of meeting with 15-year-old Olivia Campbell’s mother before the show. Her mom assured her that her daughter wouldn’t want to see Grande choked up, urging her to stop crying. She also said that Olivia, who died in the attack, “would have wanted to hear the hits.”

“I had the pleasure of meeting Olivia’s mommy a few days ago,” she told those in attendance. “As soon as I met her, I started crying. I gave her a big hug. And she said that I should stop crying because Olivia wouldn’t have wanted me to cry.”

Olivia’s mother later appeared on “Good Morning Britain,” telling hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid that the pop star didn’t feel it was appropriate to play happy songs during the show. She changed her mind after their meeting, tweaking the set list to what would have been Olivia’s taste. Her mother added that she urged Ariana to do whatever she felt in her heart and ignore what other people might say.

“She didn’t feel it appropriate to play the big ones that everyone wanted to dance to,” she explained. “We said no, you play your hits, you sing your heart out, you make everyone get up and dance and smile and sing along with you. Don’t you let anyone tell you not to do something.”

Read: Everything We Know So Far About The American Killed In The London Bridge Attack

Ahead of the concert, some feared Ariana and her cohorts would back out at the last second. Hours before the show, the United Kingdom was rocked by another wave of terror as attacks were carried out on London Bridge and in nearby Borough Market. Scooter Braun, who manages Ariana, assured fans she and the others would be taking the stage, now with even “more purpose” than before.

“After the events last night in London, and those in Manchester just two weeks ago, we feel a sense of responsibility to honor those lost, injured, and affected,” he said. “We plan to honor them with courage, bravery, and defiance in the face of fear. Today’s One Love Manchester benefit concert will not only continue, but will do so with greater purpose. We must not be afraid, and in tribute to all those affected here and around the world we will bring our voices together and sing loudly.”