Adele — singer-songwriter, mother-of-one and all-round excellent human being — organised a private screening of Despicable Me 3 in Queensway, London, for victims of the Grenfell Tower fire.
The 29-year-old, who visited a vigil at Grenfell Tower less than 24 hours after the horrific blaze, greeted young survivors of the blaze at Whiteley’s Cinema — just a stone’s throw away from the West London tower.
Speaking with People, one mother, Jane Gang, who attended the Thursday morning screening alongside her son Boulevard, said the music icon’s attendance came as a complete surprise.
“It was a complete surprise that Adele was there, and the atmosphere was intimate and warm. She dressed casually and was in the foyer to meet and mingle with the children,” she said. “All we knew when boarding the fancy coach from the Clement James Centre, a really great charity in North Kensington that became one of the main hubs of help for the Grenfell Fire victims, was that it was a private screening.”
“She came alone. She sat among some of the children in the row in front of ours and giggled along with the great comedy of Despicable Me 3. It was very elevating and laughter filled the theater.”
She added: “Adele is a truly compassionate Londoner and the presence and warmth she expressed towards the children was remarkable.”
Family members, pleased-as-punch with the generous act, have since taken to social media to thank the star.
“The amazing @Adele taking our grand kids to the cinema. So much love & effort for the #Grenfell kids – thank you xxx,” one Twitter user, presumably one of the children’s grandparents, wrote.
Just hours after the fatal fire in June, the British-native was spotted comforting victims at a local vigil.
The much-loved star was dressed in a black robe-like dress, which one witness likened it to an Abaya – a garment worn by some Muslim women.
“I guess that’s why she was dressed in an Abaya to blend in as a lot of the people around were in one,” they said.
The witness declined to speak to media outlets, saying: “There’s nothing to talk about, she’s a beautiful soul that just wanted to see if everyone was alright.”
During a string of sold-out Wembley Stadium concerts after the tragedy, she also urged her thousands of fans to continue to donate to ongoing relief efforts.
“Usually I ask everyone to get their phone out and put their lights on. But before I do that I want you to donate,” she announced on stage, before adding, “Did anyone watch the video before I came on? I’ve been down to Grenfell Tower.
“I’m going straight back [on] Monday after my shows. A lot of the stories aren’t mine to tell especially on a stage like this. Today is two weeks since it happened and they are being neglected now.”
WATCH: People from all walks of life bandied together in the face of tragedy. Post continues…
At least 80 people were killed when a fire broke out in the 24-storey West London building on June 14.
Metropolitan Police Detective Superintendent Fiona McCormack previously said the full death toll of the tragedy will not be known for “many months.”
“We are many months from being able to provide a number which we believe accurately represents the total loss of life inside Grenfell Tower. Only after we have completed a search and recovery operation, which will take until the end of the year,” she said.
“What I can say is that we believe that around 80 people are either dead or sadly missing and I must presume that they are dead.”
She added: “I don’t want there to be any hidden victims. We want to understand the true human cost of this tragedy.”
