- "Men cry for football, women cry for themselves".
Mrs. Strobl, how did you find out about the concert cancellation? I was sitting at home making friendship bracelets. My husband is out with the kids, I was supposed to go with a friend on Thursday evening. Now I'm sitting alone at home still trying to come to terms with it.
You expressed your frustration on X (formerly Twitter): "Men can dress up for football and cry at losses. Women aren't allowed to be sad about a concert cancellation." This concert cancellation was like losing a World Cup in the penalty shootout at the very last moment. I know that, I'm a football fan too. Yesterday, I emotionally fell from the highest to the lowest. And many women felt the same way, many reacted strongly to the news. But then immediately from all corners: "Pull yourself together, don't be so hysterical." There's little acceptance for women showing emotions in public spaces. But women have the right to be angry and sad about a cancelled concert! After all, it was about more than just music.
What do you mean by that? It's also about what comes before and after: Bracelet exchange, spontaneous friendships. Especially with a pop star like Taylor Swift, who caters to women and girls and creates safe spaces at her concerts. That these concerts won't happen means that we've lost that space. That eight to twelve-year-olds have to deal with someone wanting to harm them intentionally, that's very, very sad.
Why are you a Swift fan? The Swift phenomenon hit me unexpectedly. Honestly, I laughed it off at first. But the two albums that came out during the pandemic hit me right in the core. What she describes in her lyrics is exactly what I feel, even though I'm almost five years older than her.
Taylor Swift was supposed to play in Vienna for three nights. What does the cancellation mean for the city? Of course, safety comes first. We've now learned how close it was. But for Vienna, it's a disaster. And it won't look good for the big stars that everything is so chaotic here.
Do you think the Austrian police and government reacted well to the terrorism suspicion? The question should be asked earlier: How can it be that we now have, for the second time in a few weeks, I'm talking about the murders in Southport, 20-year-old men who are specifically targeting girls and young women? We need to talk about how these jihadist and salafist radicalizations, which mainly happen online, are happening and what preventive work can be done.
What gives you hope in this situation? I suggested in a large Facebook group that we go for a walk together tomorrow and sit in the park to do some kind of mourning process. I find it beautiful to see how the people who are now in Vienna are trying to rebuild.
The cancellation of Taylor Swift's concert was met with intense emotions due to the loss of a safe space, and some women were even criticized for expressing their sadness, being suspected of hysteria. The Austria authorities are under scrutiny for their response to the terrorism suspicion surrounding the concert cancellation, as similar incidents targeting young women have been occurring frequently.
