Taylor Swift has released a statement justifying her silence during the cancellation of the three dates of the Eras Tour in Vienna due to terrorist threats. The dates were cancelled on August 8, 9 and 10 after the arrest of two people linked to Islamic terrorism, thus avoiding a possible massacre. Swift then continued with the tour without commenting on these cancellations, the first of the most successful tour of all time.
Following criticism from some “Swifties” for Swift’s silence, who were expecting a message of solidarity, as many of them traveled from other countries to attend the tour, Swift has decided to speak out. And she has been categorical.
“Let me be clear: I will not say anything publicly if I feel that doing so will cause people to come to my shows who wish to hurt my fans,” Swift said in her latest Instagram post. Swift said the reason for the Vienna cancellation had “filled her with fear and guilt for all the people who had come to see the shows,” but defended her stance on the sensitive issue: “In cases like this, ‘silence’ is a way of showing restraint and waiting to speak up at the right time. My priority has been to finish the European leg of the tour safely, and I am relieved to be able to say that we accomplished that.”
Swift has thanked the “authorities” because “this way we can mourn concerts, not lives” and explained that “I have decided to invest all my energy in protecting the half a million people who have come to see the concerts in London.” Swift added: “My team and I have worked hand in hand with the stadium team and the British authorities, every day, to achieve that goal, and I want to thank all of them for everything they have done for us.”
The Eras Tour, as Swift tells it, has just left Europe and is now returning to North America for the final shows of the tour. Between October and December, Swift will perform in Miami Gardens, New Orleans, Indianapolis and Toronto before closing out the tour for good in Vancouver.
