On May 22, 2017, a deadly bombing during an Ariana Grande concert killed 22 concertgoers and injured hundreds more. The tragedy forced Grande into seclusion, but not until she put together a benefit concert for the victims of the attack. After remaining relatively quiet for a year, Grande reappeared with a new single, a new music video, and a new boyfriend, all within a month. In a new interview with Brisitsh Vogue, Grande opens up about how the bombing affected her.
Grande admits that she has been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) since the attack. Her main reason for keeping her struggles to herself is because she feels that nothing she went through can compare to what the victims and their families are feeling. She also reveals that she doesn't think she can talk about the Manchester bombing without crying. "It’s hard to talk about because so many people have suffered such severe, tremendous loss. But, yeah, it’s a real thing," she stated. “I know those families and my fans, and everyone there experienced a tremendous amount of it as well. Time is the biggest thing. I feel like I shouldn’t even be talking about my own experience—like I shouldn’t even say anything. I don’t think I’ll ever know how to talk about it and not cry."