Pop superstar Britney Spears, David Bowie and a host of stars have offered words of encouragement and condolence to those struck by the tragic terrorist attacks that took place in New York and Washington DC. Others, including Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis, have dropped the trappings of celebrity and taken to the streets to lend a hand.
Britney first got word of the tragedy upon arriving in Australia early on Wednesday morning for a two-day promotional tour. She immediately retreated to her Sydney hotel and later cancelled a planned Thursday press conference for the launch of her new album, Britney. “My thoughts and condolences are with our fellow citizens who have lost their lives and with their friends and families,” says Britney, whose brother lives in New York City. “Words can’t describe how I feel right now. I would like to dedicate my time here in Australia to all those who lost their lives in this tragedy and their families and friends who continue to suffer.” Britney will keep the rest of her Aussie engagements which include shooting a TV special. She is due to jet off to Brazil on Saturday.
David Bowie, who lives in New York, expressed his disbelief over the atrocities in a statement on his official website. “Like all of you, nothing has prepared me for the horrors of the last 24 hours,” writes the star. “Like you, I never thought I would see anything like this in my lifetime. Our world will never be the same… My heart goes out to those of you who do have family or friends missing. I hope beyond hope they are found.”
“Life here will continue,” assures Bowie, who has witnessed the pain first hand from his New York home. “New Yorkers are resilient and fast-thinking people. In this way they really do resemble my own Londoners. They came together quickly in massive community support and silent determination. There has been no over-panicking. Over the next fews days that calm may surely turn to anger. But today, there is just numbness, a horrible silence.”
Sting was to play an on-line gig on Tuesday evening from Italy but cut his performance to just one song, Fragile, from his 1987 disc Nothing Like The Sun. “I’d like a minute’s silence after that song,” he said. “I don’t want applause, I just want us to stand there and think about what’s happened today. I’m angry, I’m confused, I’m frightened. I’ll sing a song for those people who have lost their lives.”
Other celebrities took to the streets to help. My Left Foot actor Daniel Day-Lewis tried to donate blood in New York, but found the hospitals overwhelmed. Instead, the British actor joined volunteers in carrying much-needed boxes of ice to medical centres around the city. “I had to help in some small way – any way I could,” he says. “This situation is so awful. We have a home here close to the World Trade Center – my wife, Rebecca, is from New York… My first response was to pick up my three-year-old son from school and make sure he was OK. Why did this happen?”
Actress Kathleen Turner joined thousands of other volunteers helping with the rescue operations in the rubble-filled streets. "I couldn't just stay at home," she said. The Body Heat star appealed to her fellow Americans to donate shoes and clothing for those who have had to evacuate their homes.
Many others, including British Mercury prize winner PJ Harvey, have offered words of comfort. However, some have reacted with anger. New York-born dance artist Moby lashed out with an emotional attack on his official website. “Forgive my anger at this,” he wrote from his Manhattan apartment. “But the hundreds of thousands of people who will go to sleep alone because their loved ones have been killed by international terrorists have been failed by the institutions to whom they pay taxes. To whom they pay taxes to protect them from this sort of unspeakable atrocity… I’m sorry for sounding so clinical, but I’m… furious.”
Moby has continued to comment on his site, and later added this: “I apologize if my updates have upset some people. I don't know how else to respond sometimes. Please be patient with me. This isn’t easy. Please try to understand, what most of you saw on TV I saw from my roof.”
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
