Horror, Hysteria, and Hatred in Southport at Taylor Swift-Themed Dance and Yoga Class

Never enough flowers.

Photo by James Speakman/AP

“The horror of yesterday’s attack in Southport is washing over me continuously, and I’m just completely in shock,” Taylor Swift said on an Instagram story posted July 30th, one day after the traumatic, devilish stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga class in Southport, UK. 

A class meant for young children, ages 6 through 11. 

3 children were killed, and many others, including adults that were protecting the children from the attacker, were severely injured.

A 9-year-old girl named Alice Dasilva Aguiar, a 7-year-old girl named Elsie Dot Stancombe, and a 6-year-old girl named Bebe King lost their precious lives at the hands of a sick, twisted, Satan-like individual – allegedly Axel Muganwa Rudakubana. 

This incomprehensible tragedy and the aftermath of processing it has plagued Southport. Disorderly and chaotic riots have caused further damage in the community. One riot took place on July 30th during a vigil for the 3 girls who were killed. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer remarked that the “peaceful” vigil was “hijacked” and “insulted the community as it grieves.”

Another riot erupted on August 4th, about a week after the murderous stabbing occurred. More riots have ensued since.

The riots have been reported to be centered in “far-right,” racist, anti-immigration beliefs sparked by rumors about the alleged killer, claiming he was “Muslim, an asylum-seeker or both.” This hateful speech and disruptive, violent behavior by protestors is centered on false accusations and assumptions, as the alleged killer is native to the UK.

And even if he wasn’t, that’s not the problem. 

This hateful speech and disruptive, violent behavior by protestors is ironically damaging as profound, wrongfully placed hatred is what incited the horrific killing of 3 innocent, irreplaceable young girls and the attempted murder of many others in the first place. 

As we process what can only be described as a “scene from a horror movie,” we must reflect upon trends online, in everyday conversation with others, and within our own internal discourse that have contributed to the spread of abhorrent hatred within our communities and around the world. 

Southport local business owner Colin Parry said, “It’s like something from America, not like sunny Southport.” 

How haunting, how frightening, and how horrific a statement that is. The nonsensical hatred that afflicts America has been recognized as independent, but has now migrated, vexing other parts of the globe. 

Swift’s Instagram story continued, “The loss of life and innocence, and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families, and first responders. These were just little kids at a dance class. I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.” 

“These were just little kids at a dance class.” 

How utterly and painfully obvious, yet that sentence pierces you like needles. 

Why? Why little kids at a dance class? 

While no motive has been announced, many have come to one clear conclusion: femicide. 

Femicide: the intentional killing of women or girls because of their gender. 

Rather than pointing the finger at policies or a certain race or ethnicity, point the finger at hatred. Deep-seated hatred that encompasses someone like Axel Muganwa Rudakubana. 

The presence of hatred online matters. The comments and posts made from behind a screen, matter. 

The misogyny towards girls, women, even women like Taylor Swift, matters. The presence of hatred in your mind, your everyday dialogue, what we teach our children, matters.  

While the stabbings were not a terrorist attack, Swift’s The Eras Tour Vienna shows were canceled due to confirmed terrorist threats directed at those shows. 2 men have been arrested who had plans to bomb, use weapons, and “kill as many people as possible” at the shows. Femicide is alive, and it manifests in many forms.

The bias, the hypocrisy, the insensible and inexcusable hatred that torments our planet cannot be fought with more hatred, especially hatred that’s wrongfully placed in sexist, misogynistic, or racist assumptions and beliefs. 

Point the finger at a racist, patriarchal society. Point the finger at the alleged killer, Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, not the color of his skin. Point the finger at the hatred that fills terrorists and fuels their need to viciously take the lives of innocent people.

Be thankful Swift’s Vienna shows were saved from tragedy, but remain vigilant and realize women and girls are too often a target. Grieve the loss of Alice Dasilva Aguiar, Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Bebe King. Grieve the innocence lost by the trauma inflicted on July 29th, 2024. 

Being a Swiftie should not be dangerous or scary. Being a woman or a girl should not be dangerous or scary. 

Understand femicide and the violence that comes with it as senseless. 

Understand femicide and the violence that comes with it as despicable.

Understand femicide and the violence that comes with it for what it is: a hateful attack on young girls and women. 

Rest in peace Elsie Dot Stancombe, Bebe King, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar.

Photo from People, (Courtesy of Merseyside Police)