The attack in Manchester, England this past Monday at the site of the Ariana Grande concert has really shaken me up.

I have been at KiSS 92.5 for nearly 6 years now and the beautiful part of this job is that you really never know what you’re going to get each and every single day; this however can be both good and bad.

I have been on air when new music gets released, or during an award show when something funny happens, but I’ve also been on air for many tragic stories such as the deaths of Prince, Robin Williams, Paul Walker and Cory Monteith.

This past Monday, I was just about to sign off when word came down of the Manchester attack at the Ariana Grande concert where over 20 people lost their lives and over 50 were seriously injured.

On Friday, Ariana Grande released a statement about the attacks, pledging support for the victims and vowing to return to Manchester for a benefit concert.

 

https://twitter.com/ArianaGrande/status/868164986887176192

 

Ariana also released a brief statement a few hours after the attacks saying…

 

https://twitter.com/ArianaGrande/status/866849021519966208

 

A few days after the attack, a father named Patrick Millsaps took to Twitter to “scold” Grande for apologizing for the attack.

He wrote, “#1. You don’t have a dadgum thing to apologize for. If some jackass had gotten drunk and killed someone with his car next to your hotel in Manchester, would you feel responsible? If the night before your concert, a tornado had hit Manchester and tragically killed several people who were going to go to your concert, would you feel the need to apologize? You see, you are no more responsible for the actions of an insane coward who committed an evil act in your proximity than you would be for a devastating natural disaster or morons near your hotel. Your text was some stinkin’ thinkin’ in that regard.”

“#2. In your line of work, you have so many experts who are now strategizing what you should do next (I used to be one of those ‘experts’ when I managed talent). Tell them ALL to go take the powder, give them the month off, and tell them that if they call you within the next 30 days, they are fired! These ‘experts’ don’t have a freaking clue what you are processing right now. Spend time with your God, your family and your friends who will give you space and support when you need it. Hell, go lick as many freaking donuts as you want. Girl, you deserve it!”

He concluded the post saying, “So there you go my dear, unsolicited advice from a fat dude in Georgia who loves his daughters and appreciate that there are people like you in the world. Take care of you first. Your fans aren’t going anywhere.”

While his delivery might have included some humour, I think his point was very serious and clear: She shouldn’t blame herself and should take her time getting back on the road.

Millsaps told Buzzfeed, “I am humbled that I’ve had so many responses that were people telling me that it made them smile and gave them hope…But I worry about the attention because I don’t want to take one second of coverage from the families who lost…wives and daughters at the hand of a psychopath or from the first responders and police who so quickly secured the area.”

You can read his full post below and the full story from Buzzfeed HERE.

 

https://twitter.com/PatrickMillsaps/status/867260451704504320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.buzzfeed.com%2Ferinlarosa%2Fthis-letter-from-a-dad-to-ariana-grande-after-the

Filed under: Ariana Grande, Manchester