Taylor Swift Breaks Silence After Planned Terrorist Attack Caused Her To Cancel Vienna Shows, Explains Why She Waited to Speak Out

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift Breaks Silence After Planned Terrorist Attack Caused Her To Cancel Vienna Shows, Explains Why She Waited to Speak Out

Taylor Swift is breaking her silence two weeks after shows in Vienna, Austria, were canceled due to foiled terrorist plans.

On Wednesday (Aug. 21), she posted a handful of photos of her onstage for her international The Eras tour and wrote a lengthy caption of the emotion she experienced by having to cancel the Vienna shows scheduled for Aug. 8 – Aug. 10.

She first noted that she has officially wrapped the European leg of her tour and saluted the fans, crew, and people who made the concerts a success.

She then opened up about performing in London just after her Vienna concerts were canceled.

“Walking onstage in London was a rollercoaster of emotions. 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.”

Taylor Swift

Barracuda Music, a concert organizer, said the concerts had to be canceled as they had just arrested three suspects (aged 17, 18, and 19), who authorities believe planned to carry out a terrorist attack at the venue, Ernst Happel Stadium, using knives and homemade explosives.

In her statement, Taylor Swift thanked authorities for their quick action.

“I was also so grateful to the authorities because thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives. I was heartened by the love and unity I saw in the fans who banded together. 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.” 

Taylor Swift

As for why she waited to speak out, the 34-year-old performer said,

“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. In cases like this one, ‘silence’ is actually showing restraint, and waiting to express yourself at a time when it’s right to. My priority was finishing our European tour safely, and it is with great relief that I can say we did that.”

See her full statement below.

What are your thoughts on Taylor Swift’s statement? Comment and let us know.