Southport - why do they keep saying a ‘Taylor Swift themed club’?

[SandrasNewDo]

It’s really bothering me.

Is it because
a) the murder of 2 children and attempted murder and severe injury of 9 others isn’t newsworthy enough without involving Taylor Swift’s name?

b) Taylor Swift needs to suffer some guilt by association in the way Ariana Grande did with the bombing at her concert?

What’s the need or relevance? If it had been a 80’s music dance class would they keep saying that? Why not just say summer dance club and then focus on the children and adults who were hurt or killed - I can’t even imagine the devastation their families and the whole community must be suffering.

Anyone?

If it had been a 80’s music dance class would they keep saying that?

Yes. Yes, they would.

Journalists are trained to include details that add context to a story. The fact that it was a Taylor Swift-themed dance event adds context - we immediately know from this detail that it was an event aimed primarily at little girls, little girls who just wanted to be part of a huge global phenomenon that's been everywhere this summer.

If the killer had targeted little boys attending a summer football camp sponsored by Manchester United, they would have included that detail too.

These details could, potentially, also tell us something about the killer's motive. We don't know, and neither do the media, but it's a detail worth including because part of reporting the news is giving people the information that's available as we piece together the truth. That detail is part of that truth.

Is it because Taylor Swift needs to suffer some guilt by association in the way Ariana Grande did with the bombing at her concert

Firstly, everyone here in Manchester fucking loves Ariana Grande because she reacted so brilliantly to the Arena bombing. Clearly the event had an effect on her - not least because she was in the bloody building when the bomb went off; she'd only just exited the stage when it happened - but that was not because her name was mentioned in the media.

Secondly, 'Won't someone PLEASE think of Taylor Swift's mental wellbeing?' is really not something that's foremost in my mind when I hear about a mass knife attack on multiple children and adults that's left two dead and many more critical in intensive care, and I think you really need to have a good old think about your priorities.

This detail gave me a physical reaction to the news. Obviously it’s horrific enough to hear about, but as the mother of a Swiftie it was like a punch in the gut. I very rarely cry at news articles but this one… 😢

I keep seeing posts around on social media lately saying “if only women and girls felt as safe everywhere as they do at a TS concert”. And in the back of my mind was always “but what about Manchester?” knowing that it’s precisely because of the demographic that some incel/extremist would see a TS concert as a prime target.

So utterly heartbreaking, not only that some excuse for a human did this, but that it was targeted at this particular group. Sick fuck.

I see nothing wrong in mentioning the theme of the party - it could have been Abba, Halloween, Teddy Bears Picnic, Barbie, etc.

It's because using the words Taylor Swift drives more traffic and clicks. That's what journalists are taught to do these days.

This. Journalists like details, it makes it more readable. There is very little they can say and police have rightly asked people not to speculate on unknowns. You might find it clickbait enough but guarantee more people will click on story because of it

@Pip2345 what facts do you
think they should release right now? It is very early stages and as many PP have pointed out any information given out has to be carefully controlled so as not to prejudice any future prosecution.

I can understand how it feels so close and scary for you but at this point in time you know what has happened and you know the police have arrested a suspect. Right now you are not owed anymore than that. Let the police do their jobs, it’s much more important to get this right for the right outcome for everyone involved.

I know people will say that unless the police tell us more then it will naturally lead to speculation but I think that we need to address this need to know everything immediately.

A lot of comments citing incels. Do we know for certain it was an incel? If not this is speculation. Speculation on another thread that suggested a different demographic was blasted.

I think it gives context into the event the children attended. This was not a dance troop. I took it as this was a summer holiday club/event open for all priamry school aged children.

Because it was a Taylor Swift themed club? Like a dinosaur or forest school or treasure island or sports themed holiday club. Hardly the biggest issue in the whole story.

Well written, every word.

The police have said he is 17 and was born in Cardiff. What more do you need to know about him and what purpose would it serve?

Eh?

How do you know it's a few months later? Do you have his date of birth?

What if he's a vulnerable easy to influence teenager?

However much you want your pound of flesh, it's not legally, or mentally a man that did this. It's a child.

He, his family, and community are also victims of whatever created this situation. You have no idea what that is so act like a responsible citizen instead of encouraging internet witch hunts.

They knew exactly which house to raid didn't they!!

No, we know nothing yet about the motivation.

Bollocks. The media are known for omitting important details about crimes, such as the sex of the person and the ethnicity (not wanting to store racial hatred!) Even when the sex and ethnicity are a fact.

So pull the other one. This is just as op says, trying to connect Taylor Swift to this, because she is a popular singer. I'm not a TS fan by the way. I just see the glaring comparison.

And so it begins again. A fair proportion of posters on here just can’t help themselves. 🙄

I am in Liverpool. TS brought her show here for three nights in June to Anfield. There was so much excitement.
She also gave a substantial donation to foodbanks in the area.
There is a lot of goodwill to her after this.
I expect the class was super popular due to this and the press are just reporting the facts.

Might it be related to gaming & becoming desensitised to violence/detached from reality?

It's really bothering me that certain news outlets are saying two children died in the attack. They were murdered, why not state the true facts.

In what way?

Who is the attacker?

A 17 year old who was born in Cardiff. Have you not read the news today?

Did they actually say that he was born in Cardiff? I heard that he was from there but not that he was born there.

Speculating. When they have been told repeatedly why that is not a good idea.
It’s no good going 🤷‍♀️ “oh well, people are bound to speculate, it can’t be helped”. It can be helped and it’s up to the individual posters to keep their half-arsed theories to themselves, let a community grieve and the police and courts do their job.