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Taylor Swift Loses it on Camera as She Speaks to Fans: ‘I Don’t Even Know What I’m Saying’

Is it the stress of endless touring?

Taylro Swift cries in concert: Swift watching in crowd
Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Taylor Swift shocked audience members and social media viewers alike this weekend when footage circulated of her crying on stage and having a rare moment of stumbling over words as she addressed the audience in Toronto during the next-to-last city stop on her Eras Tour.

Taylor's Teary Moment

Wearing a ruby-colored cutaway dress, stepping across the stage after having performed the poignant ballad “Champagne Problems” at the piano, Swift waited for the roaring crowd to quiet before saying, "And to my band and to my crew and everybody who has put so much into this tour ... and I don’t even know what I’m saying, I'm just having a bit of a moment, sorry.” At that point, as she bent her head down for a few beats and quickly swiped under each eye, as the crowd roared its approval for her verklempt moment. Ever the professional, Swift lifted her head, gave her audience a half-smile and quipped, “It’s not even the last show.”

Taylor Swift cries in concert: Swift on stage in Toronto with dancers
Emma McIntyre/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Moving On

Of course she regained composure: Swift is above all a trouper, one whose thigh-high booted occupation of the hearts and minds of global concertgoers has gone on for 140 record-shattering shows across 5 continents. On stage in Canada, she quickly re-grouped and delivered her lines as originally intended. “My band, my crew, all my fellow performers, we have put so much of our lives into this,” she said, gesturing to the elaborate stage set-up. Then she quickly swung an arm open to the audience and said “and you have put so much of your life into being with us tonight and giving us that moment we will never forget, we have loved our time in Toronto, it’s been so amazing.”

For the few people left in the world with a lump of coal where their Taylor Swift-loving hearts should be, I have a personal insight into just how sincere she’s being. We all know that The Eras Tour contained multitudes, from Swift’s star football player boyfriend Travis Kelce popping up as a backup dancer to inspiring a boffo box office movie. When I was a guest at the concert film's Los Angeles premiere, I shared the screening room with Taylor Swift and for two hours, I watched not only the riveting film but also the star herself, seated between her fellow dancers. She was excitedly whooping, singing and seat-dancing along with them like she was a 2024 tween watching Wicked.

Taylor Swift cries in concert: Swift on stage white jacket
Emma McIntyre/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Taylor's Next Act

Long story short: On the one hand, Swift is a billionaire celebrity, but on the other hand, she’s a young woman who loves her co-workers, in this case a clutch of singers, dancers, musicians and tech crew she’s lived and traveled with for the past year-and-a-half. Her high-speed getaway car of a life is about to drastically downshift (the final Eras Tour shows are December 6 to 8 in Vancouver), and that’s dawning on her. Here’s hoping that Swift has a smooth landing—and that all her Swifties can look forward to hearing all the feels on an upcoming album.



dana dickey

Senior Editor

  • Writes about fashion, wellness, relationships and travel
  • Oversees all LA/California content and is the go-to source for where to eat, stay and unwind on the west coast
  • Studied journalism at the University of Florida

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