Selena Gomez Pays Heartfelt Tribute to Christina Grimmie During Miami Concert
UPDATE: Selena Gomez‘s step-father and Christina Grimmie’s manager Brian Teefey has raised over $120,000 for the late singer’s family through a GoFundMe page. He launched the page over the weekend with an initial goal of $4,000.
Selena Gomez offered a heartbroken tribute to her slain friend Christina Grimmie during her concert in Miami on Saturday night.
After breaking down in tears during her performance of “Nobody” at the American Airlines Arena, Gomez apologized to the crowd and sat down at the piano. She then recalled her history with the 22-year-old former Voice contestant, who was fatally shot while signing autographs after performing in Orlando on Friday.
“When she was 14, we met her – my parents and I signed her,” Gomez said. “And one thing about Christina and her family, is that she holds her faith so closely to her. It’s not about her religion, and it’s not about good deeds. It’s just that she had faith. And I don’t really understand how this happened, but I would like to dedicate this next song to her.”
Gomez then launched into the song “Transfiguration.”
Gomez had known Grimmie since the two singers were teenagers. Gomez’s stepfather, Brian Teefey, signed on as Grimmie’s manager after discovering her on YouTube when Grimmie was in high school. After releasing her first EP, Find Me in 2011, Grimmie opened for Gomez on the North American leg of the “We Own the Night” tour.
On Saturday morning, Gomez tweeted a photo of herself and Grimmie mugging for the camera. “My heart is absolutely broken,” she wrote. “I miss you Christina.”
My heart is absolutely broken. I miss you Christina pic.twitter.com/KWGwZZlj4t
— Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) June 11, 2016
Gomez also shared a note that Teefey posted on the GoFundMe site he set up to support Grimmie’s family.
“Words cannot begin to describe the pain I am feeling. I learned this business through the eyes of a father and Christina was like a second daughter to me,” Teefey wrote. “All I wanted to do was assist her in achieving her musical dreams while protecting her from the pitfalls associated with the business. I never could have imagined this horrific event being one of the pitfalls needing to be avoided. In Christina’s honor I have created a Go Fund Me page to assist her family in their time of need. As family Mother, Father, and Brother made the ultimate family sacrifice to support Christina on her musical journey. They did nothing but love her and support her as family the best they knew how, the only worry I want them to have at this point is that of recovery.
Grimms I love you, and miss you beyond comprehension.”
Adele opened her concert in Belgium with a poignant tribute to the victims of the Orlando shooting. Watch here.