Taylor Swift has “reached out to families of Southport stabbing victims” before returning to perform at Wembley Stadium last night (August 15), according to reports.
It was Swift’s her first time back in the UK since the deaths of three young girls following a mass stabbing at a Swift-themed dance class in Southport last month. A teenager has since been charged with murder.
Swift spoke out about the tragedy in a statement on July 30, writing: “The horror of yesterday’s attack in Southport is washing over me continuously, and I’m just completely in shock.
“The loss of life and innocence, and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families and first responders. These were just little kids at a dance class. I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.”
While Swift didn’t acknowledge the incident on stage in London, according to Sky News, the musician “privately reached out the families” of those affected ahead of the shows.
Elsewhere on her return to London last night (August 15), the pop star brought out Ed Sheeran as a special guest during the first of her five-night ‘Eras’ tour run.
During the traditional ‘surprise song’ segment of the show, the pop star introduced Sheeran as “one of my best friends in the world” and came out to perform ‘Everything Has Changed’, his duet with Swift from 2012’s ‘Red‘. They then segued into ‘End Game’ from 2017’s ‘Reputation‘, followed by Sheeran’s own song ‘Thinking Out Loud’.
Last night’s show marks the first ‘Eras’ concert since Swift’s three shows were cancelled in Vienna last week following a foiled terror attack plot.
Swift’s stage times in London had to be tweaked recently in the wake of the incident. Wembley Stadium also issued a statement warning ticketless fans that they cannot stand outside the venue while the concert is taking place – a trend known as ‘Tay-gating’.
For the remaining shows, it is expected that the first support act will take to the stage at approximately 5pm BST, with Paramore’s set following at around 6pm. Swift’s estimated start time is 7pm, and she’ll play for over three-and-a-quarter hours. The following support acts will appear at the remaining shows – Holly Humberstone (16), Suki Waterhouse (17), Maisie Peters (19) and Raye (20). The first opener tonight was Sofia Isella.
In a five-star review of Swift’s UK ‘Eras Tour’ opener in Edinburgh, NME wrote: “Despite being an arena show, in a huge, cavernous venue, Swift and her fans have managed to cultivate a community.
“Strangers swap friendship bracelets, laugh and cry together, and embrace the tour’s in-jokes and lore (for example shouting “one, two, three, let’s go bitch” during ‘Delicate’). It’s the power of Swift, an artist who’s inspired not only the renaming of a Scottish Loch, but also countless fans to come out and embrace being a part of the Eras family. With the ‘Eras Tour’, then, Swift’s managed to craft a marvel of a show that comes with a beating heart.”
Following this month’s London shows, Swift will head back to North America this autumn and end her mammoth ‘Eras Tour’ in Vancouver, Canada in early December.
The post Taylor Swift reportedly “reached out to families” of Southport stabbing victims before Wembley Stadium gig appeared first on NME.
