Katy Perry pays tearful tribute to victims of ‘awful’ Manchester terror attack

The singer told fans to pause for a moment of silence at her London gig
Emotional: Katy Perry paid tribute
Rich Fury/Getty
Emma Powell26 May 2017
The Weekender

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Katy Perry struggled to fight back tears as she paid tribute to the victims of the Manchester arena attack, telling fans that terrorism will ‘never win’.

Perry, 32, was overcome with emotion as she addressed the “awful” tragedy while performing to a small crowd at London’s Water Rats club.

“This week has been really hard. It sucked,” she said. “It was hard for you guys and it was hard for me because we all love music.

“We all listen to the same music, and you think about it, and think that’s my friend, that’s my sister, that’s my brother, that’s my cousin, that’s the person that loves music.”

Fighting back tears she continued: “It's awful. And whatever you can do to help, you should. And if you can't do anything that's fine. But what you should do is not let them win.

“I'm going to sing this next song for them. They can never take that part from us ever. Ever.”

Perry then called for a moment of silence before saying “rest in peace,” and playing her track Part of Me.

The Queen visits Manchester victims

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Twenty two people were killed and dozens were injured after suicide bomber Salman Abedi detonated an explosive at Ariana Grande’s Manchester arena concert on Monday night.

Several stars have paid tribute to the victims including Harry Styles who said he was left “heartbroken”, and Demi Lovato who said she broke down in tears on hearing the devastating news.

Celine Dion told fans to come together during her Las Vegas residency at Caesars Palace, and The 1975’s Matt Healy delivered an enraged speech, telling fans ‘we can’t carry on like this’.

Tom Hardy launched a JustGiving page to “raise some funds as a gesture of goodwill and love” for The British Red Cross because “the families and children will need support”, and Liam Gallager revealed all proceeds from his Manchester gig will go to the Manchester Evening News fund raising appeal for victims.

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