This past weekend in Orlando, Florida, is perhaps one of the most tragic in the city’s history.
The devastation of the mass shooting at a gay bar June 12, which resulted in the death of 49 people, is one of the most tragic moments in American history.
This will go down with 9/11, Pearl Harbor and the Oklahoma City bombing as a day when the country unanimously shed tears.
However, what terror this weekend inflicted upon the LBGT community, it also did, to a much lesser extent, to music.
Working as some sort of depraved kick-start to this hellish weekend, Kevin James Loibl traveled more than 100 miles east in order to attend what would be former “The Voice” contestant Christina Grimmie’s final concert.
Grimmie opened for pop rock band Before You Exit and was signing autographs for fans a half hour after the concert.
During this time, at around 10:30 p.m., Loibl approached Grimmie and shot her down before shooting himself.
Shortly after, she died from the inflicted gunshot wounds, stirring fans on the internet in a storm of despair.
Grimmie’s coach on “The Voice,” Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine, made a statement on Instagram shortly before her death.
“I’m sad, shocked and confused,” Levine said. “This just isn’t fair.”
Celebrities also spoke out about the violent death on Twitter.
“I’m stunned and disgusted and heartbroken that we lost that sweet little girl,” country singer and “The Voice” judge Blake Shelton tweeted.
“Christina Grimmie was such a kind, generous person, and so talented,” author John Green tweeted. “What a light has been taken from the world.”
The strongest reaction yet came from Selena Gomez, who was close friends with Grimmie since the beginning of her career.
It was actually Gomez’s mother Mandy Teefey who discovered Grimmie even before she became a contestant on “The Voice.” After hearing Grimmie’s cover of Céline Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On,” Teefey and her husband, Brian, contacted the 14-year old singer and became her managers.
Through this, Grimmie and Gomez formed a lasting friendship, touring and make television appearances together. During her concert last Saturday, Gomez broke down in tears and dedicated her songs “Nobody” and “Transfiguration” to her friend.
“I don’t really understand how this really happened,” she said.
Grimmie began her music career on YouTube under the username zeldaxlove64.
In 2014, she auditioned for “The Voice” with a cover of Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball.” Within the first 20 seconds, before the chorus even began, three of the four judges were already won over.
And who could blame them? Her voice had the power of Janis Joplin, the attitude of Pat Benatar and the emotion of Stevie Nicks. It’s not every day the world encounters someone with such a gorgeous trifecta of talent.
Grimmie was more to her fans than just another finalist on a reality TV talent show. Her adoration for video games and support for her breast-cancer-fighting mother made her more than just some musical figurehead – she was one of us.
Which only makes this needless murder all the more confusing for fans, music lovers and artists alike.
I will never understand the true motives behind assassinating artists. Grimmie’s murder makes as much sense as the murders of John Lennon, Selena and Dimebag Darrell.
Perhaps, to paraphrase Don McLean, this world was never meant for those as beautiful as them.
I never considered myself a deeply religious person, but if there is a heaven, then we already know Grimmie secured a spot in its choir of angels.
afaulds@indiana.edu | @a_faulds9615
