Ariana Grande's Mom Walked Through Benefit Show With A Comforting Message

Ariana Grande’s mother, Joan Grande, was there in the crowd at her daughter’s Sunday night concert in Manchester just as she was two weeks before when a terrorist attack killed 22 at a show in the city.

But after reportedly shepherding panicked young fans backstage at the tragic May 22 event, Joan came out to the One Love Manchester benefit show this weekend with a comforting message. A reporter for The Guardian noticed her hugging fans and telling them, “Do not be afraid.”

The benefit, held to raise funds for victims of the attack and their families, drew a crowd of 50,000 in Manchester, England, including several who were injured in the attack.

Performances by Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Robbie Williams, Miley Cyrus, Coldplay and Katy Perry became emotional as the artists spread messages of strength and perseverance.

“The kind of love and unity that you’re displaying is the medicine the world really needs right now,” Ariana said at the benefit.

“What a night!” her mother wrote over Twitter after the event, adding her thanks to the city of Manchester.

“The fortitude of your city is extraordinary!” she wrote.

The show went on just one day after another terror attack hit the United Kingdom. Three men plowed into pedestrians with a car on London Bridge and stabbed people nearby on Saturday evening in the nation’s capital before being shot dead by police. London mayor Sadiq Khan announced there was “no reason to be alarmed” by an increased police presence following the attack.

Nearly half the U.K. viewing audience watched the live One Love broadcast, which was shown on ABC in the U.S. and streamed live online. Initial estimates put the amount raised at £2 million ($2.6 million), but TMZ reports that figure could be as high as $12 million and rising.