(PA)
On 22 May, at the Coventry stop of the Love On Tour, Harry Styles paid tribute to the victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing during his ballad Sign of the Times.
Yesterday marked the sixth anniversary of the devastating terror attack that killed 22 people at Ariana Grande’s concert at the Manchester venue. Subsequently, a crossed black ribbon bearing a pair of bunny ears began to appear as a solidarity symbol to remember those who died in the bombing, the ears referencing many of Ariana Grande’s visuals. . And in his shows, Styles referenced the symbol by performing the bunny ears hand gesture during the performance of the song.
The tribute was organized by the One Love Manchester Project, which remembers the victims of the Manchester terror attacks through live music. As well as distributing signs for fans in the crowd to catch in the air during the Sign of the Times, project organizer @eilidhsadventures Fans were given pink balloons and pink filters to stick on their phone flashlights.
“My friend, Elaid McLeod, 14, was one of those victims,” reads the website of the One Love Manchester project. “She loved Harry Styles and was so excited to hear his debut album and see him live.” McLeod was among those killed in the terror attack, and Sign of the Times was one of his favorite songs.
“Coincidentally, Harry is doing a show in Coventry, 6 years later, on the exact date of the attacks – the perfect opportunity for me to remember Eliad and our 21 other angels and make something positive out of a day that brought so much pain to the country For families all over,” it continues. “Pink was one of Elaid’s favorite colours, so please help me paint Coventry pink for her.” As Styles gestured to pay tribute to the project, fans held up signs and pink lights in front.
Styles grew up near Manchester, and previously addressed terrorist attacks on stage in 2017 while performing a show the day after the bombings in Mexico. The singer performed a low-key acoustic set as a sign of respect, and fans also held a minute’s silence in memory of those killed.
“Last night, a tragedy occurred in my hometown of Manchester, and I have been left with a hole in my heart,” he said.
Styles said, “I went to my first show at the arena, and playing in Manchester has been some of the best experiences of my life.” put out into the world, and I ask you to choose love every single day. I promise we’ll be back in Mexico soon with a full show, but tonight, if it’s okay with you, we’re going to play a short acoustic set. I hope you understand, and I hope you will join me in a moment of silence for the victims and the families of the victims in Manchester today. thanks for understanding. I love you very much
When the former One Direction member played Manchester Arena in 2018, a year after the terrorist attacks, he played Just a Little Bit of Your Heart—a song he wrote for Ariana Grande—to pay tribute to those killed at the venue. It was a tribute. “I grew up coming to my first concert in this room,” he said. “I love this room. And thank you for spending some time with us.”
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