Where Was Usher? Why Singer Missed One Love Manchester Benefit Concert
“Burn” singer Usher was slated to perform at Ariana Grande’s One Love Manchester benefit concert Sunday, but he never showed. The star took to Instagram Monday to explain that he missed the show because he had to be with his son, Usher “Cinco” V, on his first day of summer camp for children who have diabetes.
Usher, 38, posted a photo of the One Love Manchester stage. “So happy to see that last night’s concert in Manchester proved that love always prevails,” he captioned the photo. “I would have loved to be there but it was my son’s first day at Camp Kudzu, one of the few summer camps for kids living with diabetes. This was an important day for him and for myself as a proud father.” He added: “Stay strong UK.”
The post was liked nearly 50,000 times by Usher’s 6.5 million followers, amassing hundreds of responses from commenters, too.
The former “Voice” coach has been open about his son’s struggle with type 1 diabetes, which is a disease the stops the body from making insulin on its own. As a result, sufferers have to inject themselves with the hormone.
“There’s been some difficult moments,” Usher told People Magazine in 2015, but “having dealt with it on a daily basis, I have a great deal of understanding of what people have to deal with. It’s personal.”
He added: “A child that every day has to prick himself and has to be cautious of what he eats and also to carry this disorder around — that really is the type of bravery that we all aspire to have.”
Grande, 23, created the One Love Manchester benefit concert after 22 people were killed and dozens were injured at her concert May 22. Islamic State Group, also known as ISIS, took responsibility for the incident, which occurred after Salman Abedi blew himself up with a nail bomb.
Grande flew home to Boca Raton, Florida to be with her family immediately after the attack, but vowed to return to Manchester. “We will never be able to understand why events like this take place because it is not in our nature, which is why we shouldn't recoil,” she said in a May 26 statement. “We will not quit or operate in fear. We won't let this divide us. We won't let hate win.”
READ: Ariana Grande Pictured With Boyfriend Mac Miller Before Benefit Concert
The singer didn’t want her fans to be afraid at her shows, despite the attack. “From the day we started putting the Dangerous Woman Tour together, I said that this show, more than anything else, was intended to be a safe space for my fans,” the Florida native penned. “A place for them to escape, to celebrate, to heal, to feel safe and be themselves.”
Grande mourned the loss of her fans. “My heart, prayers and deepest condolences are with the victims of the Manchester Attack and their loved ones,” she said. “There is nothing I or anyone can do to take away the pain you are feeling or to make this better. However, I extend my hand and heart and everything I possibly can give to you and yours, should you want or need my help in any way.”
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