Following a terrorist attack at an Ariana Grande concert on Monday night in Manchester, England, the pop star tweeted out to her 46.2 million followers, “Broken. From the bottom of my heart, I am so sorry. I don’t have words.”
The suicide bomb explosion that killed 22 and injured more than 100 others is the deadliest attack in England since 2005.
In wake of the terror and grief that has circulated in the days since, one father penned a touching letter to Ariana Grande, assuring that she doesn’t have a “dadgum thing to apologize for.”
Patrick Millsaps is a father of three girls ages 12, 12 and 13. He wanted the 23-year-old singer to know that she’s a part of his family, and someone his daughters look up to.
“After reading a tweet you posted on Twitter the other night, I’m afraid I need to set you straight girl. So listen up and receive some redneck love from a daddy of daughters.”
Millsaps, a U.S. film producer, says this event should never bring her feelings of shame or guilt. He then offered the singer some “unsolicited advice from a fat dude in Georgia.”
“You are no more responsible for the actions of an insane coward who committed an evil act in your proximity than you would be for a devastating natural disaster or acts of morons near your hotel.”
Having experience in the industry of “managing talent,” Millsaps says he knows what happens next in Ariana’s line of work:
“You have so many experts who are now ‘strategizing’ what you should do next.”
But the father believes the only person who can decide how to move forward is Ariana.
“These experts don’t have a freaking clue what you’re processing right now. Spend time with your God, your family and your friends who will give you space and support when you need it.”
His final token of advice revealed the true fan-girl of the Millsaps household—and it isn’t any of his daughters.
“When and only when you are ready, on behalf of all dads who love your…um…whose daughters love your music, SING AGAIN. Music is the international language of peace. Every time you open your mouth and share that incredible God-given gift to the world, you make this crappy world a little less crappy.”
Millsaps closed with an appreciation for “people like you,” and encouraged the singer to take care of herself first saying, “Your fans aren’t going anywhere.”
