Taylor Swift is opening up about her canceled shows in Austria. After completing the European leg of her legendary Eras Tour, Swift is reflecting on her time in Europe. She speaks about the harrowing experience of having shows in Vienna canceled after a terrorist plot to attack them was discovered. Speaking about the matter for the first time, Swift explains why she waited until now.
On Instagram, the talented singer-songwriter called European audiences “the most passionate crowds I’ve ever played for.” She thanked the many performers and crew members who made this part of her tour possible and thoughtfully addressed the foiled terrorist plans in her Instagram post.
Walking onstage in London was a rollercoaster of emotions. Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating. The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows. But I was also so grateful to the authorities because thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives.
Swift praised fans for focusing on “love and unity” and coming together despite their sadness at what they missed. She said it provided her inspiration to move forward with the remainder of her shows and making them as safe as possible. In order to do that, she had to wait to share her feelings until the job was done.
I decided that all of my energy had to go toward helping to protect the nearly half a million people I had coming to see the shows in London. My team and I worked hand in hand with stadium staff and British authorities every day in pursuit of that goal, and I want to thank them for everything they did for us. Let me be very clear: I am not going to speak about something publicly if I think doing so might provoke those who would want to harm the fans who come to my shows.
In cases like this one, ‘silence’ is actually showing restraint, and waiting to express yourself at a time when it’s right to. My priority was finishing our European tour safely, and it is with great relief that I can say we did that.
And then London felt like a beautiful dream sequence. All five crowds at Wembley Stadium were bursting with passion, joy, and exuberance. The energy in that stadium was like the most giant bear hug from 92,000 people each night, and it brought me back to a place of carefree calm up there.
U.S. intelligence agencies alerted Austrian authorities to the possibility of a terrorist threat. Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner later said their officials believe “a tragedy was prevented.” Three teenagers have been arrested thus far in the ongoing investigation into the foiled plot, per NBC News.
Another Musician Honored Taylor Swift During a Recent Stop in Vienna
On August 21, Chris Martin gave Taylor Swift a special shoutout while on stage at Austria’s Ernst Happel Stadium. He went on to play a cover of “Love Story.” He proceeded the hit by saying, “If this is not good, please, please don’t put it on YouTube because I don’t want to get in trouble with Taylor.”
The thoughtful gesture went viral as fans continue to process the news. For those who would have been there, it is both jarring and depressing that a coveted experience they worked hard for was taken from them. However, Swifties believe that their favorite artist will find a way to make it up tenfold when the time is right.
