Ariana Grande has published a full statement to Instagram tonight, sending her condolences to the victims of the horrific bombing that took place at her Dangerous Woman concert in Manchester on Monday night.
"My heart, prayers and deepest condolences are with the victims of the Manchester attack and their loved ones," she writes. "There is nothing I or anyone can do to take away the pain you are feeling or to make this better.
"I extend my hand and heart and everything I possibly can give to you and yours, should you want or need my help in any way."
Ariana then goes on to praise the incredible bravery and spirit of the Manchester locals and those who were affected by the heartbreaking attack, saying she is "more proud than you'll ever know".
"I have been thinking of my fans, and all of you, non stop over the past week. The way you have handled all of this has been more inspiring and made me more proud than you'll ever know.
"The compassion, kindness, love, strength and oneness you've shown one another this past week is the exact opposite of the heinous intentions it must take to pull off something as evil as what happened Monday.
"YOU are the opposite."
Touching on her own emotions since the attack, she adds: "I am sorry for the pain and fear you must be feeling and for the trauma that you, too, must be experiencing."
23-year-old Ariana, who flew back to the US in the aftermath of the attack, then confirms that she will return to Manchester to hold a benefit concert for those affected.
"Or response to this violence must to be to come closer together, to help each other, to love more, to sing louder and to live more kindly and generously than we did before.
"I'll be returning to the incredibly brave city of Manchester to spend time with my fans and to have a benefit concert in honour of and to raise money for the victims and their families.
"Manchester, I will have details to share with you as soon as everything is confirmed."
Addressing the attack itself, she writes: "We will never be able to understand why events like this take place, because it is not in our nature, which is why we shouldn't recoil.
We will not quit or operate in fear.
We won't let this divide us.
We won't let hate win.
"I don't want to go the rest of the year without being able to see and hold and uplift my fans, the same way they continue to uplift me."
22 victims died in the devastating attack on Manchester Arena on Monday, many of whom were children and teenagers. Saffie Rose Roussos was just eight years old. All of those whose lives were taken and drastically altered forever, were only there to come together and enjoy music. A point that is at the heart of Ariana's message.
"When you look into the audience at my shows, you see a beautiful, diverse, pure, happy crowd. Thousands of people, incredibly different, all there for the same reason, music.
"Music is something that everyone on Earth can share. Music is meant to heal us, to bring us together, to make us happy. So that is what I will continue to do for us."
Ariana ends the emotional open letter, by remembering once more, those who were lost in the attack. "We will continue in honour of the ones we lost, their loved ones, my fans and all affected by this tragedy.
"They will be on my mind and in my heart everyday and I will think of them with everything I do for the rest of my life."
As ever, the victims and their loved ones should remain our focus in the days, months and years to come. What they have gone through is unfathomable. But let's hope Ariana's words can provide even some small comfort to them at what is no doubt a dark and difficult time.
