Taylor Swift cancelled Vienna shows due to plot fears
Source: X
Pop megastar Taylor Swift says she was “filled … with a new sense of fear” when the alleged terror plot that led to the cancellation of her shows in Vienna emerged.
The US singer has addressed the sudden cancellation of the shows at the Austrian capital’s Ernst Happel Stadium in early August, which left thousands of Swift fans broken-hearted.
“Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating,” 34-year-old Swift said in a post on Instagram early on Thursday (Australian time).
“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 had been scheduled to play three shows at the stadium. They were cancelled after police reportedly uncovered a plot by Islamic State-linked terrorists.
Austrian authorities said a 19-year-old planned to carry out a suicide attack at the stadium where 150,000 fans were expected to attend the shows.
Last week Swift copped criticism after being seen partying in London partying with her 200 Eras Tour cast and crew at one of the world’s most elegant clubs.
“Betrayed” fans accused the star – who is normally astute about addressing fans directly about everything from the recent stabbing deaths of three children in Southport in the UK, to a fan who died or the infamous Ticketmaster debacle – as being “tone deaf”.
On Thursday, Swift addressed the criticism directly.
“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,” she said.
“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.”
Also this week, Swift treated two of the girls caught up in the Southport stabbings to to a “magical” night at one of her Wembley concerts.
One mother, Sami Foster, has posted a now-viral TikTok video featuring a carousel of photos from a backstage visit to one of Taylor’s sold-out shows at Wembley, along with her girls Hope and Autumn.
Swift’s mother Andrea is also seen posing in the gallery with Foster’s family.
One of the girls appears to be sporting a bandage on her forearm in one of the snaps – on which is written a lyric from Taylor’s Cardigan song that goes: “You drew stars around my scars.”
Laila Johnson was determined to get to Swift’s Wembley concert. Photo: Seven Network
Also in one of Swift’s audiences at Wembley was brave 11-year-old Lailia Johnson, from Candelo in NSW’s Bega Valley.
Laila danced and sang in a VIP box while still bearing the stitches in her face from a horrifying random stabbing attack in London’s busy Leicester Square just a day earlier.
Australian consular officials helped ensure the unstoppable youngster was able to get to the concert she had travelled to London to go to.
“Some people organised for us to go in a VIP box and there was food being served and a private toilet, which was very exciting,” she told the Telegraph and the Seven Network.
Swift said she was “heartened by the love and unity” she saw from fans in Austria who “banded together” after the shows were cancelled.
In the days after, footage went viral online of crowds of Swifties in Vienna getting together to sing and dance to their favourite hits.
The European leg of Swift’s Eras Tour concluded in London on Tuesday.
Swift made history as the first solo artist to perform at Wembley Stadium eight times in a single tour, a record previously held by Michael Jackson for his Bad Tour in 1988.
-with AAP
