Taylor Swift expressed a deep sense of guilt for disappointing her fans following the cancellation of her Eras Tour shows in Vienna, Austria. The decision to cancel the shows was made in response to an alleged terror attack planned for the concert, which filled the singer with fear and remorse.
In an Instagram post on Aug 21, Swift, 34, described the cancellation of the Vienna shows as “devastating” and explained that she had refrained from commenting on the matter earlier to prioritize safety.
“Having our Vienna shows canceled was devastating,” Swift wrote. “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.”
Swift also expressed gratitude towards law enforcement officials for thwarting the alleged planned attack at Ernst Happel Stadium, where she was scheduled to perform between Aug. 8-10.
“I was also so grateful to the authorities because thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives,” she stated.
Swift’s remarks came after three of her concerts were canceled in Vienna following the arrest of three individuals who were allegedly planning attacks inspired by the ISIS terrorist group at the events.
Police revealed that a 19-year-old man was apprehended at a home in Ternitz, located 20 miles south of the Austrian capital, after expressing allegiance to the current ISIS leader and confessing to planning an attack outside the concert venue.
With Austria’s strict privacy laws in place, the suspects cannot be identified. In the wake of the terror plot, Swift praised her fans for their love and unity, which she witnessed following the cancellation of the Vienna shows.
After the Vienna cancellations, Swift focused on ensuring the safety of the nearly half a million people expected to attend her shows in London at Wembley Stadium from Aug. 15 to Aug. 20.
“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,” Swift expressed.
Swift emphasized that her decision to remain silent on the planned concert attacks was aimed at safeguarding her fans attending future events, stating, “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.”
Up to 65,000 fans were expected to attend the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna each night, with an additional 30,000 onlookers outside the arena.
Chris Summers contributed to this report.
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