Ariana Grande told fans she was “overwhelmed” and “so nervous” as she was welcomed back to Manchester for the first time since the 2017 terror attack and subsequent benefit concert.
The crowd chanted her name during her set at Manchester Pride on Sunday.
Armed police patrolled outside the event, which came two years after a suicide bomber killed 22 people after her concert at Manchester Arena.
“Manchester holds a very special place in my heart,” the superstar said.
She told the crowd: “I’m so happy to be with you, so thank you for having me. Sorry, I’m so nervous. I had so much more to say but I’m really very overwhelmed. So thank you.”
The US singer began her 35-minute, nine-song set with No Tears Left To Cry, the first song she released after the bombing, and the night was at times emotional for both the singer and her fans.
Arena fans return to cheer her on
Mason Thomas, 20, from Manchester, was at Manchester Arena the night of the attack, and said the Pride show contained “so many tears, so much happiness”.
He said: “I think she was crying at the start during No Tears Left To Cry, which obviously is heartbreaking. But she’s so strong. She was there for us. She was there for the LGBT community. She was there for Manchester.
“I don’t know that there was one person who didn’t have tears in their eyes. It means so much to the city and it means so much to the world to show what she did tonight and show that hate doesn’t win.”
Molly Baigent, 20, from West Yorkshire, was also at the arena, and made sure she was in the front row for Pride. She said she screamed louder than usual because, “I wanted to make her feel loved”.
For Molly, going to the show was part of her therapy. “Going back is a hard thing,” she said.
“One of the things I wanted to do was go to this concert and see how I got on and try and manage my anxiety-related symptoms, which I did, so I’m really proud.”
Another concertgoer, Sadie Scorah, 28, from Bolton, said it was “beautiful and really emotional” to see Grande back in Manchester – although she would have liked her to have played a full set.
“To see her perform at her best, and to see the way the crowd reacted… she is like a daughter of our city and it was absolutely beautiful to see her back here,” she said.
“We would have loved to see her for longer, but it was really magical to see her back here.”
Post-traumatic stress
Grande played a shortened version of the set from her current world tour. But unlike at other recent shows, she did play her 2014 single One Last Time, which took on extra meaning as an anthem after the arena attack.
The star has previously said she experienced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after the bombing, and Sunday’s gig was not back at the arena. It was at a new outdoor venue next to a disused train depot in the city centre.
The choice of her as a headliner for Manchester Pride Live, the music strand of the city’s annual LGBTQ+ celebration, had been criticised by some.
She and her dancers waved rainbow flags during Thank U, Next, and she said “the gays have always had my heart”
She told the crowd how she would regularly go to gay bars to sing when she was learning her trade in New York in her teens.
“Thank you so much for accepting and celebrating me the way I’ve always celebrated you guys,” she said.
There was also criticism after some ticket-holders said they were locked out because they didn’t know they had to be in the venue by 19:00 BST.
(1/3) @ManchesterPride refused entry? employees state it says on tickets 7pm entry says nowhere on tickets anything to do with last entry??? when will we be able to receive a refund? travelled 4 hours from glasgow just to see cheryl and ariana
— katie (@ktcu_) August 25, 2019
There was no mention of further plans for Manchester, which Grande hinted at earlier this year.
“We are still working on something a little more special for you guys,” she wrote on Twitter in February. “It takes a while to put these things together but hopefully I can tell you when I see you at Pride.”
In June 2017, Manchester City Council put forward plans to make her an honorary citizen, although a council spokesman said there was no time in her schedule for any ceremony to bestow the honour during this visit.
She has already played three dates at London’s O2 Arena as part of her current tour, and will also perform in Birmingham, Glasgow and Sheffield before returning for two more shows at the O2 in October.
Josh2Funny’s Album Has Fans Talking — But Should He Stick To Music Or Skits? 😂🎶
Nigerian comedian and content creator Josh2Funny has taken his comedy game into music, and Nigerians are definitely having something to say about it.
The comedian released his 15-track album, “On Behalf of Josh,” on July 10, 2026, but instead of fading away after release, the project has continued to generate conversations on X.
And the big question now is:
Should Josh2Funny continue with music or go back to skits? 😂
Fans have been divided. While some listeners openly criticized the album and told him to return to comedy, others found songs they genuinely enjoyed.
One X user joked:
“Josh2Funny stopped doing skits and started music, Everybody wan chop this music money 😂”
Another simply said:
“This Josh2Funny Album no enter make he just go back skit abeg 😂”
But then came “Lembe.” 🔥
The track caught fire on X and eventually became a trending topic in Nigeria. The #LembeChallenge also gained momentum as creators began jumping on the song.
Josh2Funny later announced ₦1 million for winners of the challenge, giving the song another major push.
And it didn’t stop there.
‘INTERNATIONAL’ FT. ICE PRINCE ALSO TRENDED
On another day, “International” featuring Ice Prince generated its own buzz on X.
One fan even called it their favourite song from the album, while praising the collaboration. The post itself pulled thousands of views, showing that people weren’t only talking about Lembe.
From album criticism to trending songs and challenges, “On Behalf of Josh” has kept Josh2Funny’s name in the conversation.
Whether you love the album or think he should return to skits, one thing is clear:
Josh2Funny has succeeded in getting Nigerians talking. 😂🔥
So, let’s settle this once and for all:
Should Josh2Funny continue with MUSIC 🎶 or return to SKITS 😂?
Music or Skits? Drop your answer! 👇
RUAN-Badkid.96 is a Nigerian recording artist whose music refuses to live inside a single genre. Blending Afrobeat, Afrofusion, trap, hip-hop, melodic rap, R&B, and global influences, he creates records that move effortlessly between raw street energy, soulful storytelling, and infectious melodies. Whether delivering hard-hitting bars, emotional love songs, or rhythm-driven African records, his sound is defined by authenticity rather than limitation.
Inspired by both African culture and international music, RUAN-Badkid.96 embraces the confidence and ambition of global hip-hop while staying deeply connected to his roots. His lyrics explore love, heartbreak, betrayal, friendship, social injustice, hope, and the everyday realities of life. He doesn’t create music to follow trends, he creates music to reflect truth, emotion, and human experience.
Behind his fearless image is an artist who believes in kindness, equality, justice, and genuine human connection. His appearance may be intimidating, but his message is rooted in compassion and authenticity. Every record carries a piece of his journey, proving that strength and vulnerability can exist in the same voice.
For RUAN-Badkid.96, music is more than entertainment, it’s a language, a testimony, and a lifelong mission to connect with people through honesty, versatility, and unforgettable sound.
Entertainment Gists
Meet the Man Who Turned Hype Into a Science: Emmy Blaq, Nigeria’s G.O.A.T. of Hype
If you have ever been at a Nigerian event and found yourself on your feet before the main act even stepped on stage, there is a good chance a hype man was responsible. But not just any hype man. Emmy Blaq, born Ikechukwu Emmanuel Chima and raised in Auchi, Edo State, has spent the last few years quietly becoming the most talked-about name in that profession, and the Nigerian press has taken notice. Punch, Vanguard, The Guardian Nigeria, The Nation, and Independent Newspaper have all sat down with him, and every conversation leads back to the same thing: this man does not just make noise; he makes moments.
What makes Emmy Blaq different is the journey behind the energy. Before the stages, the collaborations with Waje on her “Waje 2.0” album, DJ Consequence, and DJ Kaywise on the massively streamed “Joor Party Mix” series, he was repairing generators, cutting hair, and sewing clothes in Auchi. His first professional hype gig happened at a local fast food spot called Valchi, and the crowd response that night changed everything. He told The Nation directly: “My passion for entertainment and desire to make people happy led me into the craft.” Punch also captured his bigger mission when he said that hype men deserve more than what they currently earn, a statement that sparked a real conversation across Nigerian entertainment circles.
With over 1.7 million TikTok followers, 23.6 million TikTok likes, a viral “Wife Material” challenge that landed on Pulse Nigeria’s top ten social media moments of 2021, and an international performance at the Cameroon International Music Festival that Cameroonian media described as electrifying, Emmy Blaq is not building toward something. He is already there. The G.O.A.T. of Hype is not a title he gave himself and hoped would stick. It is one the rooms keep confirming every single time he grabs the mic.
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