Taylor Swift made headlines once again, but this time it wasn’t just for her music. During her concert in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Friday, the pop sensation paused her performance to assist a fan in distress. Swift was in the middle of her song “Would’ve Could’ve Should’ve” when she noticed a fan who appeared to need help.
In a video that quickly went viral, Swift can be seen addressing the situation while continuing to play her guitar. “We need help right in front of me, please, right in front of me,” she said, her eyes fixed on the fan. “Just gonna keep playing until we notice where it is.”
Swift kept strumming her guitar, directing her attention to the fan in need. “I’m just gonna keep playing ’til somebody helps them, then I’m gonna keep singing the song,” she continued. “I don’t think anybody’s gotten to them yet, and they’re gonna. Because we’re not gonna keep singing, we’re just gonna keep talking about the people that need help in front of me. Just let me know when. I can do this all night.”
Once the fan received the necessary assistance, Swift confirmed, “You’re good? Awesome!” She then seamlessly resumed her performance of “Would’ve Could’ve Should’ve.”
The following night, Swift continued her three-night run in Edinburgh, debuting “The Bolter” from the Anthology edition of her latest album “The Tortured Poets Department.” She also performed “Getaway Car” from her “Reputation” album. Additionally, she treated fans to a mashup of “Crazier” from “Hannah Montana: The Movie” and “All of the Girls You Loved Before,” a track initially intended for her 2019 album “Lover” but released last year. “You get extra points if you know this next song at all because it is really, really old,” Swift told the crowd at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium.
Swift’s actions have garnered widespread praise online. One fan tweeted, “obviously it’s great that Taylor is stopping the show to help people in need, but I hate that this has become normal. I’ve been to around 10 concerts last year and this happened at 8 of them.…this was not the norm pre covid.”
Another fan added, “Young concert fans are not hydrating or eating enough. They queue all day, then wait at the barricade through openers, then feel sick or dizzy during the headliner. It should NOT BE THIS WAY. people need to start fueling themselves for shows.”
Some fans suggested potential solutions, such as creating aisles within the pits to allow staff to reach those in need more quickly. “If they had roped off sections within the pit, I feel like staff could reach people more easily and the artist wouldn’t be in charge of getting someone help,” one fan proposed.
Swift’s quick response to fans in distress is not a new phenomenon. In recent weeks, she has requested help for fans in multiple languages, including Spanish and French. At a May 30 show in Madrid, she said, “Ayuda, por favor,” and in Lyon, France, on June 3, she said, “Aidez-les, s’il vous plaît” twice.
Unfortunately, the need for such interventions has become more common. In November, a 23-year-old fan named Ana Clara Benevides died of heat exhaustion ahead of Swift’s show in Brazil. This tragic incident has heightened awareness and concern for fan safety at concerts.
Swift’s dedication to her fans’ well-being is evident. At a show in Philadelphia last year, she interrupted her performance of “Bad Blood” to defend a fan who had been approached by a security guard. “She’s fine, she wasn’t doing anything!” Swift shouted, adding, “Hey, stop!” The moment went viral and even became a fan chant.
Last night’s show in Edinburgh marked Swift’s first UK performance on the European leg of her Eras Tour. The tour has seen some new additions, including a set for her 2024 album “The Tortured Poets Department” and a few references to Travis Kelce. Swift has also updated her tour wardrobe, but one thing remains constant: her unwavering attention to her fans.
For Taylor Swift, the show must go on, but not at the expense of her fans’ safety. Her actions in Edinburgh are a testament to her commitment to her audience, proving once again why she remains one of the most beloved artists in the world.
