Americans travelling to the UK to watch Taylor Swift’s Eras tour have slammed British concert goers for getting too drunk.
Hardcore Swiftie’s from the US have travelled overseas to the UK to see the pop sensation, 34, live in concert.
But for many of those jet-setting fans, the experience has served as a culture shock, with one claiming that British concerts are not for the faint-hearted.
When Stephanie Matto, from Connecticut, travelled to Edinburgh for the concert, she was stunned to find drunk people in the arena. She said: ‘I know people online are romanticising the Eras tour…but I’m here to burst that bubble.
British fans have slammed Stephanie’s views, explaining that drinking alcohol at a concert is common practice in Scotland. ‘It’s ingrained into the culture here,’ one said.
Taking to TikTok, Stephanie said: ‘I just went to the Eras tour in Edinburgh, Scotland, and I don’t think that you should go there.
‘I know people online are romanticising the Eras tour, saying it’s incredible and it’s the most amazing thing they’ve ever seen, but I’m here to burst that bubble.
‘First of all, do not go to the Eras tour if you do not like standing. Even if you purchased a seat, odds are you will be standing the entire evening, and this show goes for over three hours long.
‘But you’re going to be standing for over three hours because the person in front of you is going to be standing and if you want to sit down you aren’t going to be able to see.’
She continued: ‘Another reason you shouldn’t go is if you just want to hear Taylor Swift sing.
‘Because yes, you’re going to hear her sing at the show but you’re also going to be hearing 70,000 other people screaming her songs along with her. It’s kind of like a Taylor Swift concert slash singalong.’
Next, Stephanie pointed out the drinking culture in the UK. She said: ‘You are not going to enjoy yourself at the Eras tour if you’re someone who doesn’t enjoy alcohol.
‘I noticed so many people who had way too much to drink, they were either passed out outside of the arena or were being escorted out.’
She added: ‘If you’re claustrophobic, germophobic and can’t’ stand waiting in lines, honestly, I don’t think the Eras tour is for the faint heart.’ She concluded: ‘Maybe it’s ok if somebody is a stay-at-home Swiftie’.
UK fans were quick to offer their thoughts in the comment section, and many thought Stephanie’s criticisms were unreasonable. One questioned: ‘I’m so confused by this… this is just what a concert is?’
A second added: ‘If you’re talking about Scotland, NI, ROI, Wales, and England, you are going to get people drinking way too much.
‘It’s ingrained into the culture here. I don’t really drink now but did when I was young.’
A third wrote: ‘Trying to work out if this is satire or… You just described a concert. If I can manage Reading festival all weekend, I’m good!’
A fourth said: ‘I’m genuinely intrigued as to what you were expecting before attending, no standing, nobody singing, nobody drinking…in Scotland?’
She added: ‘If you’re claustrophobic, germophobic and can’t’ stand waiting in lines, honestly, I don’t think the Eras tour is for the faint heart.’ She concluded: ‘Maybe it’s ok if somebody is a stay-at-home Swiftie’.
UK fans were quick to offer their thoughts in the comment section, and many thought Stephanie’s criticisms were unreasonable. One questioned: ‘I’m so confused by this… this is just what a concert is?’
A second added: ‘If you’re talking about Scotland, NI, ROI, Wales, and England, you are going to get people drinking way too much.
‘It’s ingrained into the culture here. I don’t really drink now but did when I was young.’
A third wrote: ‘Trying to work out if this is satire or… You just described a concert. If I can manage Reading festival all weekend, I’m good!’
A fourth said: ‘I’m genuinely intrigued as to what you were expecting before attending, no standing, nobody singing, nobody drinking…in Scotland?’
Taking to Instagram, she said: ‘I live in the US, and I went to the Eras tour in Europe. I’m so shocked at how hateful European Swifites are being.’
She wrote: ‘Tickets in the US were impossible to get, and many of us waited over a year.
‘The resale tickets in Miami are going for $16,000 (£12,600). The difference in ticket prices isn’t due to salary differences; it’s just the resale market. Claims that Americans are entitled because of 50+ shows and income differences are unfair.
She later added: ‘I am not American, but I live in the US. I didn’t even say anything bad about anyone. I just said that some Europeans are being hateful towards people travelling for the concert. Not are hateful people in general.
‘Honestly, I understand your points on not being able to go to your favourite artists show. But the tickets in Europe were available for such a long time.’
‘I bought my Paris ticket about one month after getting off the waitlist, and the tickets were available for a lot longer.
‘And for Stockholm show, I did not plan to go at all. I showed up at the stadium with no ticket and bought one from a random old man in front of the arena for £150.
‘I entered five seconds before Taylor started singing. How is that stealing a ticket? Am I supposed to let the guy leave with his unsold ticket and not get to relive one of the moments that made me the happiest in my life?’
Meanwhile, some fans who missed out on tickets – or had to fork out thousands on resale tickets, have shared their upset saying the tickets were sold to Americans, despite the singer doing 53 shows in the US and only playing 18 cities in Europe.
Taking to social media after the show, fans have said they’re upset at the choice of some attendees to fly to Scotland, given that the singer hasn’t performed in the country in eight years.
Americans have said they struggled to get tickets in their home state, and added that European dates are significantly cheaper due to the strength of the dollar.
‘Anyone can go to whatever eras show they want, it’s their money and choice. But it is a tiny bit wild seeing so many Americans go to Edinburgh when Taylor hasn’t performed in Scotland for 8 years,’ one fan wrote on X.
‘There are far too many Americans in Edinburgh for Taylor Swift. Yous had about 90 shows of your own p*** off!’ wrote another.
‘Why are there Americans here on the train to see Taylor Swift in Edinburgh you guys already had your turn??? Oh i am so annoyed,’ said another.
‘Americans are so entitled they don’t understand why Europeans are upset at them grabbing the European taylor swift tickets just cause they’re cheaper for them,’ added one.
‘I loathe Americans what do you mean you’ve flown all the way to Scotland for a TAYLOR SWIFT CONCERT. I have walked passed more Americans today than I usually do in WEEKS . Insufferable,’ said another.
‘So many rude Americans today I can’t cope. They either have no manners or they talk s*** about Scotland I can’t rn why come here to complain when Taylor Swift put on a whole a** American tour,’ wrote one.
‘Americans on the train saying how they are seeing Taylor Swift this weekend in Edinburgh. sin.
‘I was ineligible for eras tour tickets for Cardiff, Liverpool and Edinburgh. How tf are Americans taking up london?,’ added one.
‘This is why there is so much people not getting tickets in their own countries, I’ve been looking through twitter for maybe 5 mins and this is just a small amount of tweets/profiles of Americans saying they’re flying out for Edinburgh shows,’.
Taylor has already performed 53 dates in the US, she will return after the European leg to do nine more shows in Miami, New Orleans and Indianapolis. She will perform a total of 50 shows across 18 cities in Europe.
Some dedicated fans began queuing a full 48 hours before the star arrived in the city for her tour, as a whopping 220,000 excitedly wait for a glimpse and to buy merchandise.
Many have flown in across the world from the Philippines, Australia and the States, with one fan coming from Texas with his wife to see the star before he goes blind.
Many struggled to find accommodation in Edinburgh as hotels were quickly booked up despite tripling their rates during the megastar’s three-night residency between June 7 and 9.
Her Eras tour is set to boost the British economy by almost £1 billion.
On top of the ticket price itself, fans also splash out on travel, accommodation, a pre-concert meal, official merchandise and many will buy a new outfit for the big occasion too.
Researchers have calculated each Swiftie attending an Eras concert in the UK will spend on average £848 to see their idol perform.
One fan told MailOnline Swift is rumoured to be staying at the popular Balmoral Hotel and has apparently booked out two entire floors after offering an entire wedding party £10,000 to move, they claimed.
One trio of Swift fans have even flown across the Atlantic to see the Anti-Hero singer for the third time on her current Eras tour.
Margaux Eripret, Katie King and Megan Benner come from Allentown in Pennsylvania, a distance of 3,315 miles from Edinburgh.
They first saw her last month in Philadelphia and then again on Monday in Lyon, France and tomorrow night will be among 73,000 fans who will cram into Murrayfield, the home of Scottish rugby.
The friends joined hundreds queuing outside the famous stadium this afternoon to snap up merchandise.
Margaux Eripret, 23, said: ‘This will be our third time seeing Taylor on this tour. And the second this week!
‘We saw her first close to home in Philadelphia last month and then we decided to see her again in Lyon in France on Monday and tomorrow night in Edinburgh. We’ve made a trip out of it.
‘She’s amazing, although the set list is the same, she throws in a few different surprise songs at each venue.
‘I’ve seen her so many times, I first went to one of her concerts when I was eight and in the third grade at school.
‘I think she is an incredible artist and I’m so looking forward to being there tomorrow night. She brings something new every time.’
Katie King, 25, agreed and said: ‘Each venue there is a different vibe so even though this will be the third time we will have seen her it always feels quite fresh.
‘Lyon was fantastic – it’s where she broke the record for highest attendance by a female artist- but each crowd reacts differently depending on which country and which city.
‘There’s always that buzz and excitement which is amazing here in Edinburgh. It’s as much of a thrill as the first time we saw her in Philly.’
Megan Benner, 23, said: ‘That first time we were right up in the gods but in Lyon we were on the floor so had a much better viewpoint.
‘Tomorrow we are in the VIP area so it’s better still.
‘Edinburgh is a fantastic city so full of history and culture. You can see how many fans Taylor has here looking at this line for merchandise. I know she’ll raise the roof tomorrow.’
