Nicki Minaj, Lorde And More Won’t Change Concert Plans After Manchester Arena Bombing

Following Monday’s horrific bombing at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England, many concertgoers and musicians may be wary of future events. But artists such as Nicki Minaj and Lorde won’t let the incident change their future plans.

BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend festival, taking place on Saturday and Sunday at Burton Constable Hall in England, will go on as planned with Katy Perry, Lorde, Lana Del Rey, Imagine Dragons, Shawn Mendes and The Chainsmokers taking the stage, although security will be beefed up.

According to TMZ, teams representing the artists are working with the venue to ramp up security which was already going to be at “red alert level.” The changes to security will also be felt in other parts of the world. The site reports that AEG and Live Nation have started to create a security plan that has never been implemented at concert venues before.

READ: Ariana Grande Fans Show Their Support For The Singer After Attack

While some artists would avoid Manchester after an incident like Monday’s, Nicki Minaj won’t let the event interfere with her touring plans. When asked by TMZ if she would consider cancelling her tour, the “No Frauds” rapper said, “No, because we don’t operate in fear. Nope.”

According to Minaj, changing her concerts and tour plans would only send a message to terrorists that they won. As for performing in Manchester, Minaj plans to visit the city in 2018. “Of course I’ma perform for my Manchester fans,” said Minaj, “They deserve it.”

On Monday, Ariana Grande took to Twitter to give her fans an apology. “Broken,” she tweeted. “From the bottom of my heart, I am so so sorry. I don’t have words.” The singer is rumored to be suspending the rest of her European tour, but it still is not clear if upcoming Thursday and Friday performances at London’s O2 arena will be canceled.

According to Variety, management from the arena said the performances “could happen,” but a decision would need to be made soon. “We’re still in contact with the tour promoters regarding a final decision. As yet the tour is not officially postponed or cancelled, despite media reports,” a tweet from the O2’s Twitter account read.

Although the future of Grande’s tour is uncertain, rock band Eagles of Death Metal know firsthand what the pop star is going through. In 2015, the group was performing at the Bataclan music venue in Paris when it was attacked by terrorists, leaving 130 people dead.

In a statement sent to Fox News, the group’s lead singer, Jesse Hughes, sent his sympathies to Grande. “My prayers and deepest sympathies are with Ariana Grande, her band, crew, fans and families,” Hughes wrote. “With so much still unknown, I hope we all resist the temptation to speculate and jump to conclusions. I’ve learned, if we keep love in our hearts, no darkness can ever prevail against the light.”

The group made their return to Paris in 2016, with Hughes saying he felt a “sacred” responsibility to perform in the city. “I just don’t want to let anyone down,” Hughes told iTELE’s Laurence Ferrari (via Fox News) in 2016. “This show I’m supposed to put up like a barrier against anything that’s not fun and that we’re really just supposed to have fun there tomorrow.”