It’s so tragic that women like Taylor Swift are made to fear for their lives

WHAT a shocking sign of the times that one of our most popular entertainers now always carries medical supplies used by soldiers in war zones.

Taylor Swift keeps QuikClot American combat bandages used for serious gun or knife wounds close to hand at all times.

She was badly frightened by the horrific terrorist bomb attack in Manchester almost two years ago, which murdered 22 people, many of them young children attending an Ariana Grande’s concert.

Then five months later 58 people were massacred by a lone gunman in Las Vegas, leaving her even more terrified.

Taylor has increased her security detail and ensured she has medics and life-saving equipment always readily available.

Her fear of a personal attack is palpable and with justification.

Cowardly IS terrorists loathe strong, independent women such as Taylor, and have already demonstrated they have no conscience, even when it comes to murdering innocent little kids watching their favourite pop star.

It’s simply horrendous she should be made to feel so vulnerable.

Taylor is not only concerned about being killed or injured in an attack like we saw in Manchester and previously in Paris when in 2015 the Bataclan concert hall was targeted and 90 people killed.

As well as feeling threatened by terror groups and crazed gunmen, Taylor has also had her share of deranged stalkers.

One was recently jailed for six months after breaking into her house, taking a shower and then falling asleep.

But it was absolutely horrifying for Taylor who must have felt violated that he was able to get into her home.

He was again held by police this week after allegedly ransacking her house.

She also had to take out a restraining order against a particularly vile individual who wrote letters threatening to rape and kill her.

This really is beyond sick and twisted

Taylor has said she finds if very difficult to talk about these stalkers as they make her nervous and terrified. I’m not surprised.

Anyone would be in fear and trembling, having to deal with this sort of trauma on a regular basis. The poor woman just wants to perform in front of her fans and bring them a bit of excitement and joy for a few hours.

I hate to think of her being afraid while on stage and constantly looking over her shoulder.

Taylor should be having the time of her life, and I salute her for continuing to perform every night and still giving her fans 100 per cent.

It’s no exaggeration to say that at times she is living in fear, particularly after what happened in Manchester.

FANS FIRST

But it’s not just her own personal safety that has caused Taylor sleepless nights.

She is also deeply worried about the safety of her fans, and went to great lengths to ensure their safety during her world tour, where she performed in front of millions.

Taylor is well aware that terrorists and gunmen only have to get “lucky” once, whereas the rest of us have to be on our guard all the time.

I find it deeply sad that a young woman at the height of her fame should feel like a potential target, and that her loyal fans are at risk.

This is sadly the world we now live in, where little kids in America have to go through life-saving alarm drills and hide under tables in case they are shot at in their classrooms, and the most high-profile artists cannot enjoy their success for fear of being attacked mid-performance.

What a bloody tragedy.

Seconds to save your life

A PLEA to every woman in the country, and most especially to those under 30.

For the love of God, have your smear test done when you get the notification.

We are immensely lucky to live in a country where we are given the opportunity to have these life-saving procedures in the first place.

A smear test can detect abnormal cells which could potentially lead to cervical cancer.

If picked up quickly enough, this is easily treatable and YOU WILL NOT DIE!

The number of women having a smear test is now the lowest in 20 years.

Two women die from cervical cancer every single day. This is not acceptable.

Why would you not protect yourself? It’s a no-brainer.

Nurses are skilled in this quick test and expert at giving reassurance if women are a bit nervous.

It’s all over and done with in the time it takes to go for a quick pee.

So please listen to your Aunty Lorraine and don’t put your head in the sand or make a daft excuse to get out of it.

Perhaps it would help if we changed the name “smear test” to “cancer- detection-that-could-save-your-life test”.

That brings home exactly what is at stake.

Make up your own mind on Jacko

BY now you will have had the chance to see the Michael Jackson documentary Finding Neverland and made up your own mind as to whether he was a ­misunderstood childlike figure or a manipulative child abuser.

As I have said before, I found both men compelling and convincing, but now Jackson is dead we will never know the truth.

Some former fans have said they won’t ever ­listen to his music again and ­several radio stations have banned his songs, but in the long run I don’t think there will be a ­worldwide backlash.

These days most people, especially young men and women glued to their phones all day and overwhelmed by a constant stream of information, have the attention span of stunned bees.

Remember the recent furore over Liam Neeson’s remark about wanting to “kill a black man” in revenge for the rape of a close friend?

That burned very brightly for a few days and then just fizzled out.

One of the main reasons it disappear­ed was that Neeson’s new movie did incredibly well at the box office, proving that there really is no such thing as bad ­publicity.

Money talks and in Michael ­Jackson’s case, even in death, he makes an awful lot of people a heck of a lot of dosh.

Despite these horrific accusations, I believe he will continue to  do so.

A happy year off for Julie

DAME Julie Walters has brought up something that’s always niggled me.

She announced this week that she doesn’t want to do any more stage work where she has to put herself through the wringer every night, or TV dramas cast as someone going through deep anguish.

She is exhausted and has vowed to quit acting for a year to recharge her batteries.

Julie says it’s not good for you, and I have often wondered about the effects on an actor of playing a really harrowing role, especially on stage in front of an audience six nights a week and twice on Saturdays.

Now, obviously, portraying a victim of torture in a World War Two concentration camp is light years away from enduring the real thing.

It must, however, mess with your head, even if you are a well-adjusted human being, and let’s be honest, most actors are not, with the obvious exception of the estimable Julie.

She’s a wise woman who has realised she’s currently running on empty because of a gruelling schedule, and that the job she loves could potentially harm her mental and physical health.

She has said, however, that the only exception would be a third Mamma Mia! movie, as that was more like a paid holiday in the sunshine than actually work.

I completely understand her point and it must be even worse for actors such as Christian Bale and Daniel Day- Lewis, who totally immerse themselves in roles and often don’t break out of character, even at home.

One can only feel sorry not just for them, but for their long-suffering friends and family.

Julie has realised that life is too short and she is thinking about concentrating on lighter, frothier stuff from now on.

Her CV is awash with demanding roles and she has nothing more to prove.

I just hope she bounces back full of beans in a year’s time and takes in projects to give us all a good laugh.