Taylor Swift calls cancellation of Vienna shows 'devastating'. (AP Photo)
Two weeks after Taylor Swift’s Vienna concerts were canceled due to a thwarted terror plot, the singer has shared her thoughts on the situation for the first time. In a statement posted on Instagram, Swift described the cancellation as “devastating,” expressing her deep sadness and guilt over the disruption to fans' plans.
Swift acknowledged the sense of fear she felt due to the cancellations, but she also expressed gratitude to the authorities for their swift action. “Thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives,” she said. She chose to delay her public comments until the European segment of her Eras Tour concluded to ensure safety was the top priority.
In her statement, Swift emphasized that she refrained from speaking out earlier to avoid provoking any potential threats against her fans. “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 explained.
Following the cancellations, Swift’s representatives remained silent, and her social media accounts went quiet. Swift’s Instagram post clarified that her silence was a form of restraint, aimed at ensuring the safety of her fans. “My priority was finishing our European tour safely,” she said, expressing relief that the tour concluded without further incidents.
The concerts in Vienna, which were set to start on August 8, were canceled by Barracuda Music after authorities arrested individuals connected to a terror plot. A 19-year-old suspect allegedly planned to target concertgoers outside the Ernst Happel Stadium with knives or homemade explosives. Austrian officials suggested that the suspects were inspired by extremist groups such as ISIS and al-Qaida.
The 19-year-old and a 17-year-old were arrested on August 6, just before the cancellations were announced, with an 18-year-old taken into custody on August 8. The 19-year-old's lawyer criticized the authorities for exaggerating the threat to justify new surveillance measures.
Swift's statement also celebrated the conclusion of the European leg of her tour, highlighting her five nights at Wembley Stadium in London. She described the experience as a “beautiful dream sequence” and explained that her focus was on ensuring the safety of the nearly half a million attendees in London. Swift and her team worked closely with stadium staff and British authorities to achieve this goal.
The London concerts followed a tragic incident in the U.K. where three young girls were killed in a stabbing at a Swift-themed dance class. Swift expressed her shock and sadness after the attack and reportedly met with some survivors backstage in London.
The Eras Tour is now on hiatus until October when it will resume in Miami.
