Eras Tour Australia: What confused American Swifties at Taylor Swift’s Sydney show

Taylor Swift fans watching her Australian tour from afar continue to be confused by minor details of the country’s laws and culture.

Minor details of Taylor Swift’s Australian tour continue to confuse Americans.

American Swifties have shifted their attention from the lack of car-parking at Australia’s biggest stadium to another blink-and-you’ll-miss-it detail at Taylor Swift’s Sydney shows.

Last week, the pop superstar’s US-based fans seized on her MCG concerts, confused about how the crowd of 96,000 people had managed to get to the 100,000-seat arena in the heart of Melbourne, given the lack of car parking around the stadium.

Now they’re wondering why thousands of people in the audience of the sold-out Sydney leg of her Era’s Tour have been allowed to carry non-see-through bags into the gig.

The vast majority of American stadiums have a clear bag policy, which includes all fanny packs, purses and backpacks.

The bags must be clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and no larger than 12 inches by 12 inches by 6 inches or a one-gallon.

Molly Halter, an American TikTok influencer, posted a video to her account on Saturday pointing out people in attendance weren’t being forced to bring clear bags, before taking a shot at her home country.

“I’m watching the Eras Tour Australia and I’m like, ‘Why don’t they have to wear clear bags?’” she posted to TikTok.

“Because they don’t have gun problems.”

Swifties at her Sunday concert at Accor Stadium where it is not a rule to only bring in transparent bags.

Australian fans have responded with an obvious but disturbing answer.

“I think it’s because guns aren’t legal over here,’ an Australian follower commented.

“I’m Australian and it never occurred to me until now why you all needed clear bags,” another replied.

“It’s so normal for us now but soooo not normal for other parts of the world,” Ms Halter replied.

Other Americans have shared stories of trying to find bag policies for concerts they have attended around the world, only to discover there are no rules on transparency.

“When I went to a Harry [Styles] show in Spain and couldn’t find the bag policy I was DISTRESSED. Turns out … it doesn’t exist,” a woman named Megan commented.

Other US Swifties were confused by signs at Sydney’s Accor Stadium reading ‘report anti-social behaviour’, likening it to something from George Orwell’s 1984.

The messaging is common in stadiums around the country, requesting people notify authorities of a wide range of behaviour including verbal and physical abuse, and racism.

An American account posted on X (formerly Twitter) the sign was proof Australia is a “police state”.

“I saw that, made my hairs stand up,” an American replied to the post.

“They gave up their guns and are now paying for it,” another commented.

Swift plays the final show of the Australian leg of her world tour on Monday night, before travelling to Singapore.