- "Anxiety and Remorse" following Vienna cancellations
The three gigs featuring Taylor Swift (34) in Vienna at the start of the month got scrapped due to authorities foiling a potential terror threat. Swift herself didn't make any personal comments about this, neither on social media nor on stage, and carried on with the tour as planned, entertaining five shows in London. Post the "official wrapping up of the European leg of the 'The Eras' tour", Swift is now vocalizing her thoughts on the Austrian incidents.
Taylor Swift: "We mourned shows, not souls"
In a lengthy Instagram post at midnight, Swift shares that her last shows in London following the Vienna cancellations were an "emotional rollercoaster":
"The cancellation of our shows in Vienna was a blow. The reason behind the cancellations instilled a fresh wave of fear and overwhelming guilt in me since so many folks had planned to attend these gigs," the post states. "But I also owe a debt of gratitude to the authorities, as they ensured we mourned the concerts, not lives."
Swift also mentions being influenced by the "love" and solidarity she witnessed among fans afterward, with many Vienna fans taking to the streets to sing Swift's tunes together and exchange friendship bracelets, which is an established tradition at her concerts.
Furthermore, Swift discloses that she and her team collaborated extensively with British authorities to ensure her five nights at London's Wembley Stadium ended safely without any issues (these shows concluded on August 20th).
Why Taylor Swift stayed mum for so long
Swift's post dropped two weeks after the show cancellations. While many fans empathized with her silence, others criticized her for not addressing the concert cancellations directly. In her post, she now clarifies the serious reason behind her silence.
"Clearly: I will not publicly discuss something that could potentially incite those looking to harm the people who attend my shows," she writes. "In such situations, 'silence' is often an act of restraint and waiting for the appropriate moment to voice our opinions. My primary focus was to safely complete our European tour, and I'm relieved to announce that we accomplished that mission."
After the shock: London shows as a "wonderful surreal experience"
Swift also praises her London shows as a "wonderful surreal experience" and states that the performances gave her a sensation of "unfettered tranquility" on stage. She appreciates the numerous guests who joined her on stage during her London shows, including Ed Sheeran (33), Florence Welch (37), and Jack Antonoff (40), and considers it an "amazing honor" to be the first solo artist to perform eight times at Wembley as part of a tour.
"To the fans who watched us this summer: You'll forever hold a special place in my memories," she concludes her post. "It was exhilarating to perform for you, dance with you, and share these magical moments together. We'll meet again when we revive the 'The Eras' tour in October, but for now, everyone deserves a well-deserved rest. Thank you for the adventure of a lifetime. May it continue," Swift signs off.
On August 7th, authorities reported the arrests of two Austrian men - a 19-year-old and a 17-year-old - linked to a planned attack on Swift's Vienna concerts, scheduled for August 8th to 10th at the Ernst Happel Stadium.
According to AP reports, the elder of the two intended to cause as much harm as possible using explosives and knives. Two days later, Austrian authorities announced an additional arrest in connection with the thwarted attack, an 18-year-old.
Despite the terror threat and subsequent cancellation of her shows in Vienna, Taylor Swift expresses her love and gratitude to her fans by saying, "I owe a debt of gratitude to the authorities, as they ensured we mourned the concerts, not lives." Further, Swift expresses her appreciation for the love and solidarity she witnessed among her fans, stating, "I was moved by the love and solidarity I saw among my fans, with many Vienna fans taking to the streets to sing my tunes together and exchange friendship bracelets."
