Taylor Swift arrived in Toronto with a bang, causing a stir among locals. The pop star touched down on Thursday, greeted by a police escort that led to major traffic delays across the city.
Swift’s arrival marked the start of her six-show ‘Eras Tour’ lineup at Rogers Centre. While fans buzzed with excitement, not everyone was thrilled about the grand entrance. The motorcade, led by the Toronto Police Department, caused significant traffic jams, sparking outrage among some residents.
One frustrated local vented on social media:
“This is what is seriously wrong with Toronto. Its wonderful that so many people are excited with Taylor Swift’s concerts but seriously. We have very serious traffic issues that are impacting the lives and economic well being of so many, but don’t let a celebrity wait in traffic.”
Another user chimed in, predicting a week of chaos:
“6 night Taylor Swift concert in Toronto means a week of even worse traffic than normal.”
Toronto Police spokesperson Nadine Ramadan addressed the controversy, explaining the security measures:
“Taylor Swift attracts a large following that are very actively engaged, and for public safety reasons, we are facilitating her movements in the city.”
Ramadan clarified that Swift’s own security team made up most of the motorcade, with police providing additional support. She assured that no complete road closures occurred, with only brief rolling closures on major highways lasting about 20 minutes.
The heightened security comes in the wake of a terrorism threat at Swift’s Vienna shows in August. That incident led to three arrests and the cancellation of multiple concerts, with the CIA later confirming the seriousness of the thwarted plot.
Despite the traffic woes, Swift’s first Toronto show on Thursday night was a resounding success. Fans embraced the bumper-to-bumper traffic with enthusiasm. The Star reported that instead of road rage, the gridlock was filled with “Swiftie smiles and sparkles.” Some fans even showed up in creative costumes inspired by Swift’s lyrics.
As one concertgoer put it:
“It turned out to be one of the sweetest traffic jams possible, largely because of what it means to be a Swiftie.”
With five more shows to go, Toronto braces for a week of Swift-induced excitement – and perhaps a few more traffic jams.
