Adele made a rare appearance in Remember Grenfell, a film commemorating the fourth anniversary of the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire that killed 72 people. The special was released on Monday (June 14).
On June 14, 2017, a fire broke out at the Grenfell Tower block of public housing apartments residential building in West London and claimed the lives of 72 people. The award-winning British pop superstar appeared in an hourlong memorial special, in which she called for justice in the ongoing Grenfell Tower Inquiry that was formed specifically for this investigation. She also thanked Grenfell United, a group of families of victims and survivors of the fire, for “putting your pain aside for all these years to fight the fight.”
“The trial is taking way too long, and still no one has been held accountable for that night’s events. And yet Grenfell United are still out here fighting tirelessly for the justice and for the change that not only they deserve, that their community deserve, but the whole country deserves. And for that I’d like to thank you,” Adele said. “Thank you for putting your pain aside for all these years to fight the fight. I can’t imagine the sort of personal consequences that has on you.”
The massive fire set the 24-story apartment tower ablaze, burning up to 1,800 degrees as it spread under the sheath of silver cladding that authorities believe helped accelerate the flames. In December 2017, Adele signed a petition requesting that fans take action to implore Prime Minister Theresa May “take urgent action to restore their faith in the Grenfell Tower inquiry.” And on the first anniversary of the tragedy in 2018, Adele sang along to a choir performing Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me” near the scene of the fire.
“I really hope that this time next year, you will have the answers you need to finally, finally be able to grieve together,” Adele continued in the fourth-anniversary film. “I love you, I’ll see you soon, stay strong. We’re all with you.”
Watch Adele’s tribute in the “Remember Grenfell” special memorial around the 56-minute mark below.
