SWIFT SPEAKS
Taylor Swift breaks her silence after three Vienna shows abruptly canceled over disturbing ISIS terror attack plot
Swift has previously shared her fear of attacks at her shows
TAYLOR Swift has said she felt a "tremendous amount of guilt" after being forced to cancel three Vienna shows earlier this month because of a sickening ISIS plot to attack the venue.
The pop superstar finally broke her silence on the disturbing plan exactly two weeks after Austrian officials took two suspects into custody and the shows were canceled.
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Taylor Swift said she was "showing restraint" in staying silent and wanted to prioritize finishing the European leg of her Eras tour before speaking "at a time when it's right to."
The pop star shared that she was "devastated" in the statement that came after canceling the three sold-out shows.
She the message in a European tour leg round-up on Instagram after her last show at London's Wembley Stadium.
"Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating," Taylor 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."
She went on to show her thanks to the police for stopping the terrorists before they could carry out their plans.
"But I was also so grateful to the authorities because thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives," she said.
The Grammy-award-winning singer noted that her delay in releasing a statement was for the safety of her fans.
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"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 wrote.
"In cases like this one, ‘silence’ is actually showing restraint, and waiting to express yourself at a time when it’s right to."
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After speaking out about the Vienna shows, Swift celebrated her fans and thanked them for their help in making the tour special.
"All five crowds at Wembley Stadium were bursting with passion, joy, and exuberance. The energy in that stadium was like the most giant bear hug from 92,000 people each night, and it brought me back to a place of carefree calm up there," she wrote.
Barracuda Music, the event organizers, posted on Instagram Stories at the time that they had "no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone's safety."
Fans who bought tickets to the shows, originally set to take place August 8 - 10, would be automatically refunded, according to Barracuda.
ISIS PLOT
One of the suspects was a 19-year-old man who allegedly pledged allegiance to ISIS in July, per the
Both men, who allegedly radicalized themselves online, had plans to attack Swift's shows in Vienna, Austria.
In cases like this one, ‘silence’ is actually showing restraint, and waiting to express yourself at a time when it’s right to.
Taylor Swift
"A concrete threat has been averted. The suspected perpetrator was focused on the Taylor Swift concerts. Preparatory actions were detected," said Austrian Director General for Public Safety Franz Ruf.
Following the arrests, police found chemicals and investigators are trying to determine if they could have been used to build a bomb.
FAN FURY
Following Swift's statement on Wednesday, August 21, fans were quick to demand an apology from those who criticized the artist for not speaking out sooner.
"Let's agree that every single person who gave her a hard time about this owes her an apology," one X user .
"Everyone forgot that Taylor swift was also going to be at the concert that got canceled & not only is she there, she’s who will be held responsible for the lives of people who attend."
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Swifties showed their love for the singer and praised her for taking her time.
"We love you Taylor and you addressed this situation as perfectly as it needed to be," another X user posted.
"Didn’t rush a response and took the time to ensure everyone in Vienna was safe."
One user shared that people should be mindful that Swift was a "victim" too.
"So many of you owe this woman an apology for demanding an immediate statement from her when she was a victim as well!" the fan wrote.
CANCELED SHOWS
Swift was scheduled to perform at the stadium August 8 - 10 for the international portion of her massive sold-out The Eras Tour.
TAYLOR SWIFT'S FULL STATEMENT
Taylor Swift broke her silence about the planned terrorist attack on her sold-out shows in Vienna nearly two weeks after the foiled plot.
"In summation," She began her statement on Instagram.
"We have officially wrapped the European leg of The Eras Tour.
"With it came the most passionate crowds I’ve ever played for, new traditions in the show, and an entirely new era added in. It was a more hectic pace than we’d done before, and I’m so proud of my crew/fellow performers for being able to physically perform that show and build our massive stage, take it apart, and make magic with so few days in between for recovery and travel.
"They’re the most impressive people I know and I’m so lucky they gave The Eras Tour their time, their energy, and their expertise."
Swift then addressed the plots directly.
"Walking onstage in London was a rollercoaster of emotions," she said.
"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.
"But 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.
"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.
"And then London felt like a beautiful dream sequence," she continued.
"All five crowds at Wembley Stadium were bursting with passion, joy, and exuberance. The energy in that stadium was like the most giant bear hug from 92,000 people each night, and it brought me back to a place of carefree calm up there."
In a comment to the post, as the rest of the comments section is disabled, the star gushed more about the shows in London.
Before the cancelations, Ruf said security at the shows would be increased including K-9 units, bomb squads, and units with heavy weapons, per .
The three dates were expected to have 65,000 fans a day with 10,000 to 15,000 people outside of the area listening in, cops said.
The shows were ultimately canceled out of precaution.
TAYLOR'S FEARS
In 2019, Swift said a terrorist attack at one of her shows was her "biggest fear," per an for Elle.
"After the Manchester Arena bombing and the Vegas concert shooting, I was completely terrified to go on tour this time because I didn’t know how we were going to keep 3 million fans safe over seven months," she shared.
"There was a tremendous amount of planning, expense, and effort put into keeping my fans safe."
I was also so grateful to the authorities because thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives.
Taylor Swift
One of Taylor's peers, pop star Ariana Grande, infamously survived a bombing at her Manchester concert in 2017.
The suicide bomb plot took the lives of 22 people and injured over 100 others, with many of them being children.
Grande has since spoken out in about how the event left her with PTSD and heightened anxiety.
'I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THERE'
Fans were shocked to learn about the Swift terrorist threat and canceled shows.
The superstar rarely cancels shows and is known for performing even when she has a cold.
One fan shared how scary and sad they were to learn the news on X.
"I was terrified when I read the first news about a planned terrorist attack but now when we have official news I can’t believe that this is really happening, I mean obviously safety comes first but still I am so sad and mad that things like these happen… I was supposed to be there," they said under a from The Eras Tour Updates.
Taylor Swift is ‘in talks to add extra shows or film next music video in Vienna’
Taylor Swift is reportedly planning to repay Vienna fans after an ISIS-inspired terror plot forced the cancellation of her shows in Austria.
The U.S. Sun has spoken to a well-placed source close to the Cruel Summer star, who revealed she is "desperate" to make amends for the thousands of Swifties denied the chance to see the superstar in action in Vienna.
Swift was slated to dazzle in the Austrian capital earlier this month.
But after organizers pulled the plug, kind-hearted Taylor talked with her team about how to fill the void.
The U.S. Sun has been told there are three options, and a decision will be made in the next few weeks.
Insiders were keen to stress that the plans are in the "early" stages.
But the option of making her next video in Vienna has been discussed, along with potentially staging the first dates of the Eras tour 2025 in the city.
There is also the possibility of adding two new dates at the end of the resumption of her North American tour - her final show is on November 3 in Indianapolis - and starting them in the afternoon in the United States and beaming them live to the stadium in Vienna, where it would be around 9 pm.
"All the ideas are on the table," the insider told The U.S Sun. "There have been many talks, and they are ongoing."
Other users questioned the legitimacy of the cancelations before she spoke out.
"Are we absolutely sure this is confirmed?" fans wrote.
Some expressed their sympathies for those who lost their chance to see the star.
"Too bad, so many people traveled to attend the shows and now their dreams are crushed. Hope they manage to see her live someday," another shared.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
"What a horrible situation! And I feel so bad for everyone that had tickets!" wrote a third.
"My heart is breaking I'm so sorry to all the Vienna people," a person expressed.
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