James Corden Devotes Emotional Monologue To Ariana Grande And Manchester Victims
On Monday night, a suicide bombing at Manchester Arena killed at least 22 people, including children, and injured 59 more.
The explosion occurred just after Ariana Grande had finished performing around 10:30 p.m. local time.
News of the attack broke as James Corden was taping "The Late Late Show," so when the taping finished and the audience left he filmed an emotional monologue that was played before the airing of the pre-recorded episode on CBS.
The 38-year-old host was born in London but grew up in Buckinghamshire, England. Visibly shaken, he addressed the people of Manchester, Ariana Grande, and the victims and their families in an emotional tribute that ended with a black screen.
Corden began,
Good evening. While taping our show earlier tonight we heard the horrific news coming out of Manchester, in England, that there has been an incident at Ariana Grande's concert. We still have no real information about what's happening. All we know is the tragic news that there are multiple fatalities and many injuries.
He continued,
It shocks me every time we hear this sort of news that attacks like this can happen -- but especially when there will be so many children at this concert tonight.
The first victim was identified on Tuesday morning as 18-year-old Georgina Callander. A second victim was named a few hours later, 8-year-old Saffie Rose Roussos.
Corden went on to talk about the strength of the people of Manchester, saying,
Many of you won't have ever been in Manchester, but you will definitely have heard of it. It's famous all over the world for so many wonderful things. Great football teams: Man City and Man United. It's famous for incredible music: Oasis and Joy Division. It was the birthplace of the leader of the Suffragettes. It's the home of the invention of the first computer. It's a place full of comedy and curries and character. But when I think of Manchester, the place that I know, I think of the spirit of the people there. And I'm telling you, a more tight-knit group of people you will be hard pressed to find. Strong, proud, caring people with community at its core. And if it was even possible, the spirit of Manchester will grow even stronger this evening.
He concluded,
My thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Manchester tonight. All of the staff at the MEN Arena, all of the security teams, all of the emergency teams, Ariana and her team and all of those families affected by tonight. We'll all go to bed holding our little ones even tighter this evening.
Corden also retweeted a call to ban a journalist who made an insensitive joke about Ariana Grande in the wake of the news.
We'll continue to update you as new information unfolds about the horrific attack.
