Taylor Swift breaks 'silence' on terror plot and defends herself with extremely clear message to fans
Taylor Swift has released a statement addressing the backlash she and her team have received since cancelling the Austrian leg of her Eras Tour.
The singer, 34, was forced to cancel three of her concert dates in Vienna earlier this month after police arrested two alleged extremists who'd reportedly plotted a terror attack at Ernst Happel Stadium.
Austria's director of public security, Franz Ruf, told public broadcaster ORF’s Oe1 programme at the time (7 August) that investigators had found chemical substances and technical devices at the suspects' house.
He added that both men - who are allegedly associated with the Islamic State terror group - were to be evaluated.
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Swift's events organiser Barracuda Music also confirmed news of the concerts' cancellation in a statement on Instagram, writing: "Due to confirmation by government officials of a planned terrorist attack at the Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three planned shows for everyone's safety."
They continued: "All tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 working days."
Since then, the 'Cruel Summer' singer has seemingly remained tight-lipped on the cancellations, despite the sell-out tour continuing in London - something which some fans have taken badly.
However, the 14-time Grammy winner has now broken her 'silence' on the matter with an emotive statement.
Sharing a snap from her tour, she penned: "In summation: 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."
Swift went on to thank her team for the 'time', 'energy' and 'expertise' they poured in to make the string of concerts so successful.
She added: "Walking onstage in London was a rollercoaster of emotions."
It was then that the she addressed the thwarted terror attack, saying: "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."
She continued: "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."
Addressing her failure to previously speak out, Swift said: "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."
The singer went on: "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."
Topics: Celebrity, Crime, Music, Taylor Swift
Rhianna Benson