Highlights
Taylor Swift has at long last come out to address the cancellation of her concerts in Vienna because of security risks. The pop superstar took to Instagram and in a very emotional post she talked about the foiled attack plot that saw the shows called off and she thanked the authorities for foiling the plan. The statement from Swift shows the emotional aspect of the event and her concern for the fans’ safety. Read on to learn about Swift’s response to the situation, the specificities of the failed attack, and how it affected her Eras Tour, and get a better understanding of the issues that celebrities face when it comes to concert safety.
Swift’s Response to the Vienna Incident
Taylor Swift posted on her Instagram for her fans after her Vienna concerts were canceled after a credible threat of violence. In her statement, Swift said that the incident changed her a lot and that she developed a new sense of fear when the authorities exposed the plot to attack her concert venue. She also said she was sorry to fans who had anticipated attending the shows.
Thanking the authorities for their actions in preventing the plan, Swift said, “Thanks to them, we were mourning concerts and not lives.” The singer said that she was initially quiet on the issue because it was important not to anger those who would want to harm her fans.
The Story Of The Foiled Attack
Austrian police arrested a 19-year-old man who said he planned to open fire at Swift’s Eras Tour concerts in Vienna. The suspect, and two other youths, 17 and 18 years of age, were apprehended several days prior to the planned concerts. Police said that the main suspect seemed to have been influenced by the likes of the Islamic State and al-Qaida.
The plot of the attack was said to be to stab spectators outside the Ernst Happel Stadium or blow them up with rudimentary explosives. Due to the arrests being made so close to the concert dates, the organizers had to cancel the three concerts in Vienna that were scheduled for August 8. Although the suspect’s lawyer has denied the allegations stating that they had been exaggerated, the event shows that security threats are still rife in high profile events.
Effect on the Eras Tour and the Future Measures
After the Vienna cancellations, Swift and her team had to start worrying about the safety of the rest of the European tour, especially the London shows. The singer said that he was glad to have come through the European part of the tour without a repeat of the accident. But the London shows were not bereft of their own background of tragedy as they occurred just a month after a stabbing incident at a Swift-themed dance class in the UK which claimed the lives of three young girls.
Swift’s comment aptly captures the dilemma that artists often find themselves in how to keep performing while at the same time ensuring the safety of their fans. It has probably led to better preparations for security in the subsequent tour dates, and people have become more aware of the potential threats at mass events.
The Eras Tour which has become the highest-grossing concert tour of all time is on a planned hiatus at the moment. It is planned to continue in October with dates in the USA and Canada, beginning with Miami. When Swift and her team plan for these future concerts, one can bet that the Vienna experience will not be forgotten when it comes to security and protection of fans.
