Ariana Grande performed in Pittsburgh last night, the hometown of her late ex-boyfriend Mac Miller. It was an understandably emotional and heartfelt night for Grande, concert goers shared on social media. But the singer paid tribute to him lovingly and movingly.
Some fans noted that even before the show started, Grande was only playing Mac Miller songs in the arena. 'Ariana really had a Mac Miller playlist for the music before the show and she has an empty seat reserved for him she’s so strong,' one fan tweeted.
During the show, Grande teared up during two Mac Miller songs. During 'Thank U, Next,' Grande broke down while singing, 'Wish I could say, "Thank you" to Malcolm / 'Cause he was an angel.' The audience gave her wild applause to encourage and support her during the raw moment, and she resumed singing:
Grande struggled most with her performance of 'Raindrops (An Angel Cried),' a song believed to be about Miller. She broke down and wasn't able to finish the song, but the crowd cheered her on and supported her:
Grande has paid tribute to Miller several times since he passed away. In her first written statement after his death in September, Grande wrote about how much he has and will always mean to her.
'I adored you from the day I met you when I was nineteen and I always will,' she wrote on Instagram. 'I can’t believe you aren’t here anymore. I really can’t wrap my head around it. We talked about this. So many times. I’m so mad, I’m so sad I don’t know what to do. You were my dearest friend. For so long. Above anything else. I’m so sorry I couldn’t fix or take your pain away. I really wanted to. The kindest, sweetest soul with demons he never deserved. I hope you’re okay now. Rest.'
Alyssa Bailey is the senior news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton). She previously held positions at InStyle and Cosmopolitan. When she's not working, she loves running around Central Park, making people take #ootd pics of her, and exploring New York City.
