Adele reveals she avoided the Tube for almost 20 years over 7/7 terror attack 'anxiety'

The star opened up about the lasting impact of the 2005 attack, where 52 people lost their lives and over 700 were injured, had on her
Adele
PA Archive
Lisa McLoughlin 26 January 2024
The Weekender

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Adele steered clear of the London Underground for nearly two decades after the 7/7 terror attacks.

The 35-year-old singer, who now lives in Los Angeles, opened up about the lasting impact of the July 7, 2005 bombings, where 52 people lost their lives and over 700 were injured in coordinated attacks on the Tube and a bus.

Adele opened up about her battle with "claustrophobia" during a recent Weekends With Adele show and revealed how she conquered her fear of the Underground on a recent visit home.

The Tottenham native told the audience, as reported by MailOnline: “I wasn't even scared to be on the Tube. I loved it. It reminded me of my teenage years.

“I haven't really been on the Tube in England, not since I've been famous. It is since we had a terror attack there. I have been scared because I get claustrophobic.”

The singer recounted summoning the courage to use public transport again in December, driven by the desire not to miss ABBA’s Mamma Mia the Party at the O2 Arena in north Greenwich.

Adele finishes her Las Vegas residency in June
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images f

She continued: “The last break [after her shows], I went home to London, and I wanted to go to the Mamma Mia party. It's at the O2.

“So, it was Friday night, and I had an appointment before. So, I had to get there in like 45 minutes and it's like a two hour drive really in traffic.

“So, I had to get on the Tube, my appointment required me to be in full hair and makeup. So, I very much looked like Adele the singer.

“I got on the Tube, and I had a mask on. I did have lots of security guards with me in fairness and a few friends, but we were all very under the radar and I felt right at home. You'll never guess what happened, but I f***ing fell asleep!”

Speaking on stage at her Caesars Palace residency in Las Vegas, Adele added: “Anyways I loved it. And then I got to the O2 and I had to walk through thousands and thousands of people.

“People started recognising me then, but I was f****ing out of time.”

Adele returned to the Vegas stage earlier this month for the final leg of her run which ends in June.

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