Ariana Grande responds to Pete Davidson's 'disgusting' Manchester bombing joke

Ariana Grande has responded to her husband Pete Davidson's 'disgusting' Manchester bombing joke.

The 24-year-old actor and comedian, who is known for his 'bad taste' routines, reportedly made the gag during a stand-up routine in Los Angeles, before he was in a relationship with the singer.

The gag came just months after Grande tweeted that she was 'broken' after a suicide bomber killed 22 people after one of her concerts in Manchester last year.

In the gag, Davidson reportedly said Ariana must realise how famous she's become because "Britney Spears did not have a terrorist attack at one of her concerts".

Sources say that Davidson has yet to respond to criticism over the gag, however his set received a 'standing ovation'.

Speaking to The Mirror, Charlotte Hodgeson, whose 15-year-old daughter lost her life in the attack, commented:

For anyone to joke about this situation is disgusting and I think he should publicly apologise for it.

The families will find it equally as disgusting.

We don’t need jokes about it, there have been plenty around, and it’s heartbreaking to hear every day.

But for someone so famous to be doing it and now to be with Ariana, it’s outrageous. I think she would be horrified too.

Jane Clough, 30, a survivor of the attack, said that she was 'shocked' by Davidson's joke. Speaking to The Mirror, she said:

I think it’s absolutely disgusting, I’m shocked.

This isn’t something to joke about, it was a terrorist attack targeted at children. You don’t joke about things like that in a stand-up comedy show.

I’m still suffering on a daily basis, I still have nightmares, and Ariana herself has suffered from PTSD. What the hell?

Some of Ariana's fans have expressed that they don't understand why the star has stayed with Pete after the gag.

One took to Twitter to express that they thought the joke wasn't funny, it was 'just rude':

Now, Ariana has issued a much anticipated response to the controversy surrounding her partner.

Taking to Twitter, she wrote:

This has been v tough & conflicting on my heart. he uses comedy to help ppl feel better ab how f-ed up things in this world are.

We all deal w trauma differently.

I of course didn’t find it funny.

It was months ago & his intention wasn’t/ is never malicious but it was unfortunate.

In a follow up Tweet, she said:

I hear and respect you always.

Some of Ariana's fans have been satisfied with her response, and have accepted the explanation that the joke is a way of dealing with trauma:

Some think that trauma is 'no excuse', and that the Manchester bombing has nothing to do with Davidson.

Others, however, think that Davidson should still issue an apology:

What do you think? Is 'using comedy as a way to deal with trauma' an excuse for the gag? Or should Davidson issue an apology?

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