Swift’s Vienna performances, scheduled for early August, were highly anticipated by fans, making the cancellations all the more devastating.”Walking onstage in London was a rollercoaster of emotions,” Swift wrote. “Having our Vienna shows canceled 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.”
The singer’s post also conveyed her deep gratitude towards the authorities, who she credits with preventing a far greater tragedy. “I was so grateful to the authorities because thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives,” Swift added. She praised her fans for their resilience and unity, noting how they came together despite the disappointment.
In the wake of the cancellations, Swift’s fans gathered on Corneliusgasse, a street near the concert venue, to console each other and maintain the community spirit typical of her shows. Fans exchanged friendship bracelets and took selfies, keeping the concert atmosphere alive even in the absence of the star.
Swift explained her decision to remain silent until now, emphasizing the importance of restraint in such sensitive situations. “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 said. Her priority, she said, was ensuring the safety of her fans and finishing the European leg of the tour without incident.
What happened in Vienna?
Concert organizer Barracuda Music said that it canceled the three-night Vienna run, originally set to begin on August 8, due to the arrests made in connection with the terror conspiracy being too close to showtime. As per the reports, authorities revealed that a 19-year-old suspect had planned to target spectators outside the Ernst Happel Stadium with knives or homemade explosives, aiming to “kill as many people as possible.” Austrian officials reported that the suspects were allegedly inspired by the Islamic State group and al-Qaida.
The 19-year-old suspect, along with a 17-year-old, was taken into custody on August 6, just a day before the cancellation announcement. A third suspect, aged 18, was arrested on August 8. The 19-year-old’s lawyer has called the allegations “overacting at its best,” accusing Austrian authorities of exaggerating the threat to gain new surveillance powers. The cancellations left tens of thousands of Swifties from around the world devastated, many of whom had already traveled to Vienna for the shows.
Despite the Vienna cancellations, the London dates proceeded without incident, concluding on Tuesday and marking the end of the European leg of the record-breaking Eras Tour. However, these shows followed closely after a tragic stabbing at a Swift-themed dance class in Southport, UK, that resulted in the deaths of three young girls. Swift expressed her shock and heartbreak over the incident, and she reportedly met with some of the survivors backstage in London.
Swift’s Eras Tour, which has become the highest-grossing concert tour in history, is currently on a scheduled break.
The European leg of Swift’s Eras Tour concluded at Wembley Stadium in London, where she broke records with eight performances, surpassing Michael Jackson’s 1988 record for the most concerts by a solo artist at the venue.
Taylor Swift’s next show is scheduled for October 18 in Miami, Florida, as her Eras Tour continues across the globe.
Source : Times of India
