Taylor Swift Says Canceling Eras Tour Shows in Vienna Due to Terrorist Plot Was Devastating

Publish date: 2024-09-14

Taylor Swift has spoken out after three of her Eras Tour dates in Vienna were canceled earlier this month following a thwarted terrorist attack that led to the arrest of two men.

In a post on Instagram commemorating the end of the European leg of the show, which just wrapped at London’s Wembley Stadium, Swift shared that she was overwhelmed by the cancellations and that they instilled a sense of fear and trepidation.

“Walking onstage in London was a rollercoaster of emotions,” she wrote in a caption. “Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating. The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows. But I was also so grateful to the authorities because thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives.

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“I was heartened by the love and unity I saw in the fans who banded together,” she continued. “I decided that all of my energy had to go toward helping to protect the nearly half a million people I had coming to see the shows in London. My team and I worked hand in hand with stadium staff and British authorities every day in pursuit of that goal, and I want to thank them for everything they did for us. Let me be very clear: 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 addressed fans taking note that she hadn’t issued a statement in the days that followed the cancelations, stating that it was to see the Eras Tour through to a safe conclusion. “In cases like this one, ‘silence’ is actually showing restraint, and waiting to express yourself at a time when it’s right to,” she wrote. “My priority was finishing our European tour safely, and it is with great relief that I can say we did that. And then London felt like a beautiful dream sequence. All five crowds at Wembley Stadium were bursting with passion, joy, and exuberance. The energy in that stadium was like the most giant bear hug from 92,000 people each night, and it brought me back to a place of carefree calm up there.”

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Swift was initially slated to take the stage at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium on Aug. 8-10 as part of the international leg of her Eras Tour. But authorities canceled the shows after two men were arrested just outside of Vienna in the town of Ternitz.

The apprehended subjects were a 19-year-old who pledged his allegiance to ISIS and lived with his parents, as well as two other men. Police raided the 19-year-old’s home and found various chemicals and substances, which were being tested to see if they could be used to create a bomb. Authorities said that the men had recently been radicalized through the internet and had specific plans on how the attack would transpire.

At first, authorities said that the concerts could continue with added security, but hours after news of the arrest, they decided to cancel the shows. Police Chief Gerhard Purstl claimed that the concrete danger had been “minimized,” but that an “abstract danger” remained.

Austrian concert promoter Barracuda Music confirmed the terroristic threat in a statement announcing the cancelations. “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Vienna Shows cancelled due to government officials confirmation of planned terrorist attack,” read the statement. “With confirmation from government officials of a planned terrorist attack at Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety.”

Swift just finished up the final stretch of her European Eras Tour with five dates at for London’s Wembley Stadium. She’ll soon return to North America to conclude the tour in November with six dates at Toronto’s Rogers Centre and three at Vancouver’s BC Place.

In a subsequent caption, she celebrated the conclusion of the European Eras Tour shows by thanking her surprise guests Ed Sheeran, Florence Welch and Jack Antonoff. And, of course, she concluded by showing love to the fans who came out in droves to support the performances.

“To the fans who have seen us this summer, you’ll always have the most sparkling place in my memories,” she stated. “You were a dream to perform for, dance with, and share those magical moments with. We’ll see you all again when we resume The Eras Tour in October, but for now we get to take a much needed rest. Thank you for the adventure of a lifetime. May it continue…”

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