Selena Gomez’s step-father has raised over £120,000 for the family of Christina Grimmie after the singer was shot and fatally wounded following a concert in Florida.
Brian Teefey discovered Grimmie on YouTube when she was a teenager and became her manager. As well as being a client, Grimmie was also a family friend and had toured with Gomez.
Teefey, who described Grimmie as “like a second daughter to me” launched a GoFundMe page asking for donations to support the 22-year-old’s family, who “made the ultimate family sacrifice to support Christina on her musical journey”.
The page has garnered over $120,000 in donations in less than 48 hours.
“They did nothing but love her and support her as family the best they knew how. The only worry I want them to have at this point is that of recovery,” he wrote on the page.
“Grimms I love you, and miss you beyond comprehension.”
Teefey issued a statement on Grimmie’s official Twitter account shortly after her death. “Words cannot begin to describe the pain I am feeling,” the statement said. “I learned this business through the eyes of a father and Christina was like a second daughter to me. All I wanted to do was assist her in achieving her musical dreams while protecting her from the pitfalls associated with the business. I never could have imagined this horrific event being one of the pitfalls needing to be avoided.”
In an emotional performance on Saturday, a tearful Gomez described her struggle to comprehend her friend’s sudden death.
“When she was 14, we met her. My parents and I signed her,” she said. “One thing about Christina and her family is that she holds her faith so closely to her. It's not about her religion and it’s not about good deeds. It’s just that she had faith. I don’t really understand how this happened, but I would like to dedicate this next song to her.”
