In a recent article written by James Harkin in The Daily Mail, Ariana Grande is seemingly blamed for the attacks because of her provocative outfits. This is complete BS. Harkin asserts that because of Grande’s “unabashed sexual confidence” she made herself and her fans a target for Islamic State. Harkin supports his assertion by stating how the Islamic state is against Western music and lifestyle and continues to argue that Grande is a symbol of everything Islamists hate. Harkin approaches this fact as if it was the trigger for the attack in Manchester; essentially Harkin argues that because Ariana Grande is comfortable in her own sexuality she is responsible for the attack in Manchester because THAT makes sense.
While Grande’s provocative nature might attract some negative light by the Islamists, she is faultless when it comes to the attack in Manchester. Is Harkin trying to assert that "If she hadn't been wearing that, he never would've done this" or "If she had been more modest, maybe that terrorist would not have killed innocent people,"? Because that’s wrong. This is shaming a young woman for feeling comfortable in her own skin, something that a lot of women struggle with. Instead of shaming her for what she chooses to wear, we should be supporting her during this difficult time.
What is more important to focus on, that Harkin doesn’t even touch on, is the fact that this was an act of violent terrorism carried out by a violent terrorist. The Guardian reports that Salman Abedi had close connections with gangs and terrorists in the city. There is actual proof that Salman’s family has a connection with the most extreme sect of Salafism from which Al Qaeda and ISIS both originate. THIS is the reason there was an attack on Monday, May 22, nothing else. Violent people caused the attack in Manchester, not a singer who has “sexual confidence.” Twenty-three people died not because Ariana Grande was showing too much skin or dancing provocatively. Twenty-three people died because of the killer who had known ties to terrorism. Anyone who says otherwise is a coward who does not want to admit that there is a REAL problem in the world. Anyone who blames Ariana Grande might as well blame females as a whole because her body DID NOT cause a terrorist attack. Islamic extremists are to blame not an American singer.
This woman is broken right now. All Grande was doing was what she loves to do and for that people are punishing her with the responsibility of 23 lives lost. Ariana is not to blame here. Does she check everyone’s purses as they enter the arena, does she scan the crowds looking for potential threats? No, because that’s not her job. Her job is to perform and put on a show and that’s all she was doing on May 22, that’s all she is responsible for. Ariana Grande was not even on the stage when the bomb was detonated, she had already finished the concert.
