Taylor Swift postponed her concert in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, originally scheduled for Saturday, following a tragic incident in which a fan lost her life before Swift’s Friday show.
Thousands had gathered at the stadium for her Eras tour, which has been setting records. On Instagram, Swift emphasized that the safety of fans, crew, and performers is her top priority, stating it always comes first.
Brazil is currently facing a severe heatwave, leading to health warnings. The heat index in Brazil reached extreme levels of over 59°C both on Friday and Saturday, posing serious health risks.
Despite the postponement, Swift’s concert scheduled for Monday is still on. Swift expressed her devastation on Instagram about a fan’s death, describing her feelings of sorrow and shock.
“I can’t believe I’m writing these words but it is with a shattered heart that I say we lost a fan earlier tonight before my show,” Swift wrote. “I can’t even tell you how devastated I am by this.”
The organizers reported that 23-year-old Ana Clara Benevides Machado, after experiencing discomfort, sought assistance at the stadium. She was subsequently taken to a hospital, where, unfortunately, she passed away an hour later.
Fohla De Sao Paolo reported that Machado’s death was due to cardiorespiratory arrest.
Swift, 33, shared her inability to discuss the incident onstage, overwhelmed by grief. She expressed her profound sense of loss and extended condolences to the fan’s family and friends.
Swift mentioned how unexpected this tragedy was during her Brazil tour. She acknowledged having limited details about the fan’s death.
Social media showed Swift at the concert, encouraging staff to distribute water to attendees. During “All Too Well,” she was seen giving a water bottle to the audience.
Rio’s Mayor Eduardo Paes criticized the incident on X (formerly Twitter), calling for changes like more water points and emergency services at the event.
Brazil’s Justice Minister Flávio Dino emphasized on X the importance of allowing fans to bring water bottles into venues.
He directed T4F Entertainment, the Eras Tour organizer in Brazil, to provide free and accessible water to fans, following a ban on personal water bottles.
Swift was welcomed to Brazil with Rio’s Christ the Redeemer statue lit up, part of her record-breaking tour. She is scheduled for two more Rio shows before moving to Sao Paulo.
