{"id":202353,"date":"2025-10-15T18:05:13","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T18:05:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/202353\/"},"modified":"2025-10-15T18:05:13","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T18:05:13","slug":"katy-perry-asks-tear-jerking-question-to-schoolgirl-who-lost-her-confidence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/202353\/","title":{"rendered":"Katy Perry asks tear-jerking question to schoolgirl who ‘lost her confidence’"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Mirror went behind-the-scenes at Katy Perry’s London O2 gig where the American singer met Pride of Britain winner Florrie Bark and her group of new friends, all of who have battled cancer<\/p>\n

There were tears, hugs and face-aching grins when Katy Perry met Pride of Britain winner Florrie Bark<\/a> and her new friends for a very special backstage party.<\/p>\n

California Girls singer Katy, 40, took time out before her London O2 gig on Monday night to meet Florrie, nine, and eight other children who have been supported by Florrie\u2019s award-winning cancer charity BeMoreFab<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you real?\u201d Katy, who was dressed as a blue robot, asked the children as she popped her head around the door of the green room and made them gasp in shock. \u201cI know I\u2019m real, but are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Walking towards Florrie, Katy addressed her by name and asked the little girl to introduce her to all of her new friends.<\/p>\n

\"KatyKaty Perry arrived at the green room to surprise Florrie Bark and her pals, minutes before she was due on stage at London’s O2(Image: Tim Merry\/Staff Photographer)<\/p>\n

Alana Bee, 16, who is recovering from cervical cancer, burst into tears as she met her idol. \u201cOh my god, I\u2019ve just touched Katy Perry<\/a>,\u201d she gushed. \u201cTouched me? Girlie-pop, you can hug me!\u201d the singer told her before embracing the teen and telling her that she liked Alana\u2019s makeup.<\/p>\n

Later, Alana grinned: \u201cI kissed Katy Perry – and I liked it! When she came in the room I was paralysed, then it hit me she was really there. I just sobbed and was hyperventilating.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her mum Vanya said the night out had done Alana the world<\/a> of good. \u201cShe\u2019d lost confidence since having tumours on her thyroid at the age of 14, and then last year being diagnosed with cervical cancer. She hasn\u2019t been at school since Year 9 and when her beautiful long hair fell out she didn\u2019t even want to leave the house.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"KatyKaty hugs Alana Bee as Amelie Flatt looks on in sheer joy(Image: Tim Merry\/Staff Photographer)<\/p>\n

But inspired by the wonderful staff who have cared for her, Alana has just started at college and wants to be a pediatric oncology nurse, so she in turn can look after ill children.<\/p>\n

Her new-found friend Amelie Flatt, 13 from Hitchen, was just as overwhelmed when Katy approached them. Eighteen months on from a bone marrow transplant to treat the cancer that has cropped up four times from childhood, Amelie is only just transitioning back into \u2018normal\u2019 life and returning to school.<\/p>\n

She left virtually speechless when the popstar admired her make-up and home-made Fireworks t-shirt.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can’t believe I met her,\u201d she beamed afterwards, wiping tears from her eyes. \u201cHer songs bring so many happy memories from when I finally got to see my friends and stuff.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe children were thrilled that Katy took time out of her evening to meet them all(Image: Tim Merry\/Staff Photographer)<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen she told me my make-up was incredible, that is my biggest flex now. I’m never going to let that go – I need it on a t-shirt! At least I played it cool\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Amelie added: \u201cKaty said that I was really an amazing, strong person and that I inspire her.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe promised to sing California Girls extra-loud for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her mum Sofia said proudly: \u201cKaty was absolutely amazing, she gave them all so much of her time. What a beautiful human. That was such a special moment and Amelie will never, ever forget it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Of little Florrie from Corby, who last year won the Pride of Britain Child of Courage award for her indomitable spirit and tireless fundraising to help other children living with cancer, Katy said: \u201cYou are a queen. I\u2019ve heard so much about you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Florrie is awaiting a lung transplant after complications from her bone marrow transplant, which she had after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called acute myeloid leukaemia at the age of six.<\/p>\n

\"KatyKaty meeting Florrie Bark, who she described as “a queen”(Image: Tim Merry\/Staff Photographer)<\/p>\n

She launched BeMoreFab with parents Andrew and Stacy, and raised more than \u00a3120,000 in just three months, which helps other children living with cancer to access tutors to catch them up with missed school work.<\/p>\n

Turning to Andrew and Stacy and hugging them, Katy said: \u201cYou have produced a truly incredible human being.\u201d<\/p>\n

Katy, mum to Daisy Dove Bloom, five, who she shares with ex Orlando Bloom, spoke to each of the children – Emmy Whitmee, 9, of Rothwell, West Yorks; Ellerie Carroll, 9, of Bradford; Bella Shalgosky, 9, of Corby; Kaiden Edwards, 10, of High Wycombe, Bucks; Darcie Smith, 7, of Belfast and Ada Rumney, 8, of Eastlound near Doncaster.<\/p>\n

She then insisted on meeting each of their parents and taking selfies.<\/p>\n

And she made the children laugh as she told them they could stay up all night and didn\u2019t have to listen to their mums and dads.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo we need them? Yes we do – to bring us stuff,\u201d said Florrie, making the whole room burst into laughter. \u201cThey can go to the grocery store?\u201d said Katy. \u201cYeah – and bring us medicines,\u201d Florrie quipped.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know what they can\u2019t do? They can\u2019t tell us to go to bed any time soon,\u201d Katy laughed, shooting a look over at the parents.<\/p>\n

\"KatyKaty with all of the children and their parents, as she told them to “stay in the light – you are the light”(Image: Tim Merry\/Staff Photographer)<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can stay up for five hours and listen to the music!\u201d cheered Florrie.<\/p>\n

Before leaving to get ready for her show, Katy told the children – who handed her a BeMoreFab rainbow friendship bracelet – that she would \u201cnever forget\u201d them.<\/p>\n

\u201cStay in the light,\u201d she urged them, hugging them all once again. \u201cYou are the light. Hold this moment in your heart forever, OK? And I’ll never, ever forget you.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love you so much. You\u2019re the best!\u201d<\/p>\n

With a swish of long black hair – into which shimmering strands of silver had been weaved – Katy departed for the stage, leaving the group in raptures.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was so nice to see how happy everybody was and some of the girls were crying,\u201d said Florrie.<\/p>\n

\u201cKaty knows our names now and she remembered us!\u201d<\/p>\n

Bella Shalgosky, nine, was comforted by her best friend Emmy Whitmee – wearing matching pink shimmering outfits – as she sobbed with happiness. Later, the pair watched over the balcony of their VIP box at the O2, screaming out the lyrics as Katy performed all her high-octane greatest hits.<\/p>\n

\"KatyKaty took to the stage after her special meet-and-greet to deliver a high-octane performance of her greatest hits(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Bella is also from Corby, but she and Florrie had never met before Monday night – despite Andrew being her headteacher before he left to launch BeMoreFab. Florrie, who wore a blanket emblazoned with faces of her family members, said she and Bella will definitely stay in touch. \u201cI\u2019m going to get a Bella blanket!\u201d she smiled.<\/p>\n

Sean Reddington, co-CEO of Thrive Learning, who donated the use of the VIP suite so the children could enjoy a truly special night out, was thrilled that Katy had been so kind to them all.<\/p>\n

\u201cFlorrie is such a special little girl and deserves to be treated, but she in turn wants to make other children happy,\u201d he said. \u201cShe wanted to make new friends and give them a little moment of joy – and that\u2019s what makes her so incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n

The children and their parents got to watch the entire show from the box, including when Katy appeared to confirm her romance with ex-Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau<\/a>, after photos of them emerged at the weekend canoodling on Katy\u2019s private yacht.<\/p>\n

\"KatyKaty was papped kissing Justin Trudeau on her yacht this weekend(Image: SWNS)<\/p>\n

Speaking to a fan in the crowd called Darren who was holding up a sign asking her to marry him, she joked: \u201cOh my god! You should have asked me 48 hours ago!\u201d<\/p>\n

Katy also poked fun at the breakdown of both her former relationships with shamed comedian Russell Brand<\/a> and actor Orlando Bloom, laughing: \u201cLook at this beautiful crowd. No wonder I fall for Englishmen all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her mum Mary was also in attendance with little Daisy, and Katy quipped that she would no longer sing her risque hit Peacock, even though it is Daisy\u2019s \u201cfavourite song\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cMom doesn\u2019t like it – whoever wrote it should be very ashamed of themselves,\u201d Katy told the crowd. \u201cYes, I wrote it – there we go. Mom is praying right now\u2026 she\u2019s been praying since 2008!\u201d<\/p>\n

Up in the box, nine brilliant children partied right until the end of the show, waving glowsticks and swapping phone numbers so they can stay in touch.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat a night,\u201d grinned Florrie\u2019s mum Stacy. \u201cThey were able to have one day where they weren\u2019t just patients worrying about their next treatment or isolating in hospital. This will stay with us forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Katy Perry breaks silence on romance with Justin Trudeau with cheeky quip on stage in London<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Mirror went behind-the-scenes at Katy Perry’s London O2 gig where the American singer met Pride of Britain…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":202354,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[96,19506,13019,128,31110,477,87667,35052,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-202353","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-music","tag-entertainment","tag-justin-trudeau","tag-katy-perry","tag-music","tag-o2","tag-orlando-bloom","tag-pride-of-britain-awards","tag-russell-brand","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/202353","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=202353"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/202353\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/202354"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=202353"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=202353"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=202353"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}