Taylor Swift takes support from BFF Ed Sheeran for Eras tour comeback amid terror threats

Taylor Swift kicked off the final segment of the European leg of her Eras Tour on Thursday night at London's Wembley Stadium, joined by her "best friend" Ed Sheeran. 

The duo performed their hits "Everything Has Changed" and "End Game" to a packed crowd of 92,000 fans. Swift expressed her gratitude to Sheeran for his appearance, marking her first performance since canceling shows in Vienna last week due to a terror threat.

This concert was also her return to the UK following a tragic incident in Southport last month, where three children were killed at a Swift-themed dance class. According to the BBC, Swift has privately reached out to the affected families but did not address the incident during the show.

The Vienna concerts were called off after authorities thwarted a terrorist plot aimed at one of Swift’s sold-out shows at the Ernst Happel Stadium. Although Swift has not publicly commented on the Vienna situation, she did issue a statement expressing shock over the loss of the three girls in Southport, describing herself as "completely in shock."

As with most of the Eras Tour, the show proceeded as planned, but Sheeran’s surprise appearance during the acoustic segment elicited a huge cheer from the audience. The acoustic set, kept secret until performance, featured their 2012 hit "Everything Has Changed" and their 2017 collaboration "End Game." Swift also returned the favor by joining Sheeran on stage for his ballad "Thinking Out Loud."

Swift praised Sheeran at the end of their mini-set, calling him one of her best friends and noting his dedication despite being on tour. The concert, lasting over three hours, saw Swift stick to her setlist with minimal deviations. She expressed how overwhelming the crowd size felt and mentioned that she would miss performing to such large audiences.

Swift's choice of surprise songs, often a reflection of her current state of mind, included "King of My Heart" from her "Reputation" album and "The Alchemy" from her latest album, "The Tortured Poets Department." These selections provided little insight into her personal feelings but highlighted the breadth of her musical catalog.

Enhanced security measures were in place for the Wembley shows, with non-ticket holders banned from gathering outside, a practice known as "Tay-gating." Fans were reminded of strict bag policies at the venue. Swift's run at Wembley, which includes shows on Friday, Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday, aims to set a new venue record. She previously performed three nights there in June and will match Take That’s 2011 record with these additional five nights.