Taylor Swift Opens Up About Vienna Attack Threat and the Fear It Brought
Taylor Swift has broken her silence about the cancellation of her Vienna tour dates earlier this August, revealing that the incident left her with a deep sense of fear. The decision to call off the concerts came after authorities uncovered a credible threat linked to potential attacks inspired by the Islamic State group.
In a heartfelt post on Instagram, Swift expressed her remorse, stating, “The cancellation of the Vienna shows filled me with a new sense of fear and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on attending those concerts.” The 34-year-old singer-songwriter emphasized that while the situation was devastating, her priority was ensuring the safety of her fans.
Three concerts in the Austrian capital were canceled, and law enforcement arrested three individuals allegedly involved in planning the attacks. Despite the disappointment, Swift shared her gratitude for the swift actions of the authorities, writing, “I was also so grateful to the authorities because, thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives.”
Swift explained that her focus shifted entirely to ensuring the safety of nearly half a million fans attending her London shows, which marked the final leg of her European tour. “My team and I worked hand in hand with stadium staff and British authorities every day in pursuit of that goal,” she wrote, expressing her thanks for their efforts.
Addressing why she chose to wait before speaking publicly about the Vienna incident, Swift explained, “Silence in this situation was about restraint. I didn’t want to say anything that might provoke those who seek to harm my fans. My priority was completing our European tour safely, and it’s with great relief that I can say we achieved that.”
Swift’s European tour concluded with eight record-breaking shows at Wembley Stadium in London, surpassing the previous record set by Michael Jackson in 1988 for the most performances by a solo artist at the venue. Her final show also tied the record for the most nights at Wembley on a single tour, a milestone set by Take That in 2011.
Looking ahead, Swift’s next performance as part of The Eras Tour is scheduled for October 18th in Miami, Florida.
