Ariana Grande nominated to become first honorary citizen of Manchester
The singer is being recognized for her reaction to her concert’s fatal bombing.
After raising over $3 million earlier this month with her all-star benefit concert, aimed to assist those affected by the Manchester Bombing, Ariana Grande may be honored in return.
The singer has been nominated to become Manchester’s first honorary citizen.
The City Council of Manchester is devising a new system that will recognize and pay tribute to people who have made outstanding contributions to the city and Grande has been tapped to be the first recipient.
City Council leader Richard Leese praised Grande when speaking to the BBC, saying:
“We’ve all had cause to be incredibly proud of Manchester and the resilient and compassionate way in which the city, and all those associated with it, have responded to the terrible events of 22 May, with love and courage rather than hatred and fear. Ariana Grande exemplified this response. I think many people would already consider her an honorary Mancunian and we would be delighted, if the council approves the proposal, to make it official.”
The Council will vote on the proposal in mid-July.
On May 22, twenty-two people were killed by an ISIS-affiliated suicide bombing while exiting a Grande concert at Manchester Arena. Grande returned to the city two weeks later to lead the benefit concert.