Ariana Grande Breaks Down in Tears During Powerful Meeting with Father of Manchester Bombing Victim

On May 22, 2017, tragedy struck when a bomb exploded outside Ariana Grande’s concert at the Manchester Arena, killing 22 people and injuring hundreds. The youngest victim, 8-year-old Saffie-Rose Roussos, lost her life after attending her first-ever concert with her mother and sister. Her father, Andrew Roussos, waited outside with her brother Xander, only to learn of the devastating attack that changed their lives forever.

In the wake of the tragedy, Ariana Grande faced a barrage of criticism for returning to the United States shortly after the bombing. Many questioned whether the young star was avoiding responsibility or grieving in private. Andrew, however, saw the situation differently. “It’s not fair,” he told his police liaison officer. “She’s only a young girl. She probably wanted to be with her family, same as the rest of us.”

Determined to meet the singer, Andrew expressed his wishes to Des, the family’s police liaison officer. Arranging such a meeting was no small feat, but Des made it happen. Ariana Grande, accompanied by her manager Scooter Braun, flew into Manchester and met with Andrew and his family at a private venue.

When Ariana entered the room, she was visibly emotional. Tears streamed down her face as she embraced Andrew, who is over a foot taller than her petite frame. The father, himself grappling with unimaginable loss, responded with compassion, assuring her, “This isn’t your fault. Saffie loved you. And she had the time of her life watching you on stage.”

Ariana listened intently as Andrew recounted stories of Saffie watching her on television, volume turned up, thrilled by her performance. For a brief moment, the two connected as people—not as a grieving father and a global superstar, but as two individuals trying to make sense of a senseless tragedy.

She also took a moment to engage with Xander, Saffie’s older brother, chatting about Pokémon Go and showing genuine interest in his hobbies. It was a simple, human gesture that left a profound impact.

Scooter Braun later confided to Andrew, “This will mean the world to her.” For Andrew, the meeting was a chance to offer Ariana something rare in the aftermath of such a public tragedy: reassurance. His words sought to lift some of the weight off her shoulders, helping her understand that she wasn’t to blame.

As they left the venue, Andrew felt a sense of peace. The meeting hadn’t just been meaningful—it had been healing. For both the grieving father and the young singer, it was a moment of shared humanity, a reminder that in the face of great loss, connection and kindness can offer a path toward healing.