Country music star Ella Langley is defending her decision to call off a sold-out concert in Tulsa, Oklahoma, after a reported bomb threat, telling fans the following night that no show is worth risking a human life.
Langley, 27, addressed the cancellation while performing Saturday at the United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas, one day after she scrapped her Friday night show at Tulsa's BOK Center. She became emotional as she explained why she chose not to perform even though police found no credible threat.
«I was put in charge of a decision for 15,000 people and I decided to make the decision that I could live with the rest of my life,» Langley told the crowd, according to Taste of Country. «Because when it comes to keeping you safe and making sure that this show is a safe place for us to come and enjoy our music, then it will happen. But the second it feels like it's not, I'm not doing it. I'm not doing it because a concert's not worth a human life. It's not.»
She added that she would have made the same call «ten billion times over» and would do so again «tomorrow and the next day.» The singer said the safety of her fans outweighed her desire to perform, describing the people around you who love you as the most important thing in life.
Langley also credited her Christian faith with giving her the courage to return to the stage in Texas. She admitted she nearly canceled Saturday's show because she was still shaken by the incident.
«If it wasn't for Him, I would have canceled this show tonight,» she said. «But I felt this calling and this tug in my chest saying, 'It's OK. We are safe. We can do this show.' And I decided to do it because of Him right there. And that's the only reason.»
She told the crowd she refuses to live in fear. «We're going to put on music and get to do this for the rest of our lives,» Langley said. «Nobody is going to take me out of it or scare me out.»
The cancellation was announced on Instagram roughly two hours before Friday's show was scheduled to begin. In that statement, Langley cited «a serious security threat involving the safety of my fans, the venue staff, and my team» and said the decision was made under the advisement of local authorities, the venue, and her security team.
«I know how much time, travel, money, and planning goes into coming to a show, and I can't tell you how sorry I am,» she wrote. «This is not a decision that was made lightly. I was so looking forward to spending tonight with you, but your safety will always mean more to me than anything else. I refuse to put anyone in harm's way.»
The BOK Center issued its own statement Friday, saying the safety and well-being of everyone involved was its absolute priority and apologizing to fans who had planned to attend.
At the Lubbock show, Langley thanked the audience for turning out despite the frightening incident in Oklahoma. «I know yesterday was scary, it was scary for all of us,» she said. «But we're just so grateful to be playing this show tonight. We're so grateful and we will never take this for granted.»
She closed by telling the crowd that their energy had carried her through the night. «Tonight I can tell that y'all knew that I've needed what you've given me,» Langley said. «And this band and this crew — you knew that we needed this show tonight, so thank you so much for giving it to us.»