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Selena Gomez pays tribute to friend Christina Grimmie

SELENA Gomez fought back tears while paying tribute to her longtime friend Christina Grimmie, who was fatally shot after a concert in Orlando.

Staff writers
less than 2 min read
June 12, 2016 - 11:34PM
Christine Demas lays flowers at the Plaza Live on June 11, 2016 in Orlando, Florida. Christina Grimmie passed away following a shooting after her Orlando Concert.
Christine Demas lays flowers at the Plaza Live on June 11, 2016 in Orlando, Florida. Christina Grimmie passed away following a shooting after her Orlando Concert.

SELENA Gomez paid an emotional tribute to her longtime friend Christina Grimmie on Saturday night, one day after the former Voice star was fatally shot in Orlando.

“When she was 14, we met her and my parents and I signed her,” Gomez told the crowd during her Miami concert.

“One thing about Christina and her family is that she holds her faith so closely to her,” the Hands to Myself singer said, fighting back tears. “And I think it’s not about a religion and it’s not about anything or good deeds. It’s just that she had faith, and I don’t really understand how this really happened, but I would like to dedicate this next song to her.”

Fans shouted words of support as Gomez wiped away tears before performing Hillsong Worship’s Transfiguration while seated at the piano.

Later in the show, Gomez became overwhelmed with emotion while performing Nobody, and was seen mouthing “I’m sorry” to her fans as she struggled to finish the song.

Grimmie, who rose to fame after appearing on season six of The Voice in 2014, was gunned down by a man while signing autographs following a concert in Orlando, Florida on Friday night.

Gomez’s stepfather, Brian Teefey, discovered Grimmie on YouTube when she was still in high school. He later worked as her longtime manager.

Earlier in the day, Gomez shared a black-and-white photo of herself and Grimmie on Twitter after hearing the devastating news. “My heart is absolutely broken,” the 23-year-old songstress wrote.

Gomez also shared a link to a GoFundMe page, set up by her stepfather to raise money for the Grimmie family. The page has already collected more than $US39,000 in less than 24 hours.

“Words cannot begin to describe the pain I am feeling,” Brian Teefey wrote on the page. “I learned this business through the eyes of a father and Christina was like a second daughter to me.”

Christina Grimmie, who was fatally shot as she signed autographsn after performing in Orlando, Florida.
Christina Grimmie, who was fatally shot as she signed autographsn after performing in Orlando, Florida.
Kevin James Loibl, the gunman who fatally shot and killed singer Christina Grimmie. Picture: Orlando Police Department
Kevin James Loibl, the gunman who fatally shot and killed singer Christina Grimmie. Picture: Orlando Police Department
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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/selena-gomez-pays-tribute-to-friend-christina-grimmie/news-story/3f3fd28f6b09f088ab775ea9b94e49df