Taylor Swift expressed her gratitude for being able to mourn the loss of concerts rather than lives, in her first statement since a supposed planned terror attack on her Austrian concert dates resulted in the shows being canceled.
In an Instagram post on Wednesday, the singer bid farewell to the European leg of her Eras Tour, which had concluded the day before in London. She recounted the emotional experience of performing at Wembley Stadium following the cancellation of three nights in Vienna the previous week.
“The cancellation of our Vienna shows was devastating. The reason behind it filled me with fear and guilt, knowing how many people had planned to attend those shows. Nevertheless, I was thankful to the authorities for ensuring that we were mourning the loss of concerts and not lives,” Swift wrote.
Swift’s Vienna shows, originally scheduled for August 8, 9, and 10, were called off after the arrest of two teenagers in connection with a thwarted plot to attack the events. A third teenager was apprehended later, although authorities stated he had no direct role in planning the attack.
All three suspects, aged between 17 and 19, reportedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group. The 17-year-old had obtained employment at the Vienna venue, while bomb-making materials were discovered at the 19-year-old’s residence. The latter confessed to intending to “kill as many people as possible outside the concert venue.”
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Despite initial plans for the concerts to proceed with heightened security, they were ultimately canceled as Vienna police determined that an “abstract danger” still persisted despite minimizing the concrete threat. Disappointed fans congregated in the city to exchange friendship bracelets and sing Swift’s songs amidst the canceled shows.
“I was heartened by the love and solidarity displayed by the fans. I resolved to concentrate all my efforts on ensuring the safety of the nearly half a million individuals who planned to attend the London shows,” Swift stated in her Instagram post, mentioning the collaborative efforts with Wembley Stadium staff to achieve this objective.
After expressing her gratitude to those involved in the security measures, Swift explained her decision to wait until the conclusion of the London shows before addressing the canceled events.
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“Let me clarify: I refrain from discussing certain matters publicly if it could potentially endanger the safety of my fans. In cases like this, ‘silence’ is a display of caution, choosing to express oneself at an appropriate time. My primary focus was ensuring the completion of our European tour safely, and I am relieved to say that we achieved that goal,” she added.
To conclude her post, Swift commemorated the five nights at Wembley, following three performances in June that made her the first solo artist to play the venue eight times in a single tour. She is set to return to North America in November for shows in five cities to conclude the Eras Tour.
“To all the fans who joined us this summer, you will always hold a special place in my memories. Performing for you, dancing alongside you, and sharing those magical moments was a dream come true,” Swift expressed. “We will meet again when The Eras Tour resumes in October, but for now, we can enjoy a well-deserved break. Thank you for the unforgettable experience. May it continue…”
