Taylor Swift became visibly emotional as she met with some survivors of the 2024 Southport attack, according to scenes featured in her new documentary series.
In July 2024, three young girls lost their lives and several others were injured during a stabbing incident at a Swift-themed dance workshop in Southport, England.
Following the tragedy,Taylor Swift reached out to the survivors and families of the victims, offering her condolences and inviting them to attend one of her London shows.
Behind-the-scenes clips in The End of an Era show the singer fighting back tears as she prepared to meet her guests backstage at Wembley Stadium, eventually breaking down while speaking with her mother, Andrea Swift.
“I know you helped them,” Andrea told her daughter as she handed her a tissue. “I know it doesn’t seem like it, but I know you helped them.”
Swift had only a few minutes to compose herself before stepping on stage.
The Wembley performance carried emotional weight for her, marking her first return to The Eras Tour after three Vienna concerts were cancelled due to a terrorist threat in August 2024.
Reflecting on the situation, she told the crowd, “We dodged a massacre situation.”
She also admitted privately that she felt intense anxiety leading up to the London show.
“I’m trying to calm down I’m having a very physical reaction to my nerves. My hands are shaking. It’s weird, I just have to get this first show over with,” she told her mum.
“I’ve been performing for 20 years. From a mental standpoint, being afraid that something is going to happen to your fans at any moment – this a new challenge.”
Taylor Swift compared the pressure to being “a pilot flying a plane,” saying she needs to appear calm so fans feel safe.
The documentary also highlights her relief after the Wembley show, with Taylor Swift telling her fiancé Travis Kelce over the phone, “I was so happy – I thought I was going to forget how to play guitar and sing.”
The Eras Tour, which ran for nearly two years, ended a year ago.
The first two episodes of The End of an Era are now streaming on Disney+, alongside the concert film of the final show.
