The death of a fan during Taylor Swift’s November 17 Eras Tour performance in Brazil has left her extremely saddened.
Following the performance at Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos in Rio de Janeiro, the pop icon shared a heartfelt handwritten note expressing her grief on social media.
She expressed her shock at having to write about the loss in the note, saying that she was heartbroken to hear that a fan had died just before her performance.
Swift emphasized the fan’s beauty and young age while expressing her profound sadness. She also talked about how difficult it is for her to confront the issue on stage because talking about it brings on a lot of intense grief.
Swift conveyed her profound sadness and her condolences to the fan’s family and friends, underscoring that she had not anticipated this tragic incident when she brought her tour to Brazil.
What happened to Taylor Swift fan?
The 23-year-old Ana Clara Benevides reportedly passed out during Taylor Swift’s performance at Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos and had to be revived, according to the Brazilian daily Folha de S. Paulo.
After being taken to a hospital, she eventually passed away from cardiorespiratory arrest. According to Folha, Benevides’s cousin Estela Benevides and Time For Fun, the company that organized the concert, confirmed her passing.
It is still unclear if Benevides was present when Swift performed at the show, which started at 7:30 p.m. local time.
Taylor Swift’s Friday night performance coincided with a heat wave in Brazil; Folha reports that the “feels-like” temperature at the venue was 140°F. According to unofficial reports from Folha, firefighters saw about a thousand people pass out during the performance.
Despite the extreme heat, some fans claim on social media that the venue did not allow guests to bring water bottles inside. Fans captured footage of Swift interjecting during the performance to stress the importance of staying hydrated.
At one point, she was even seen throwing a water bottle into the crowd.
Taylor Swift to perform at the same venue in Brazil
Due to “extreme temperatures,” Swift had to postpone her Saturday concert; she will now perform on Sunday and Monday at the same location.
Early on Saturday, Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes issued a statement detailing the show’s changes. Doors will open one hour earlier, more water distribution points will be set up, and there will be more fire marshals and ambulances to help lessen the effects of the sun.
According to an Instagram confirmation, Time For Fun will give away free water to attendees and permit food, sealed water bottles, and cups to be brought into the venue for future performances.
Brazilian Consumer Protection Agency head Wadih Damous told the New York Times that the government would look into Time for Fun. He expressed concern about the decision to forbid thousands of people from drinking water in heat exceeding 60 degrees Celsius, calling it “insane and irresponsible.”
Taylor Swift was “overwhelmed by grief” to address the issue live
Swift said in a statement posted to her Instagram Story that she will not be discussing her fan’s death live because she is “overwhelmed by grief” when she tries to talk about it.
She conveyed her intense grief by saying, “I want to say now I feel this loss deeply and my broken heart goes out to her family and friends.” Swift continued by saying that she had not planned for this tragic incident when she decided to take her tour to Brazil.
According to a CNN Brasil report from November 18, the Brazilian federal government gave the concert producer a 24-hour window to provide the National Consumer Secretariat with information explaining the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
“Who determined the ban on access to water at the show, whether drinking fountains were available, [details] about the technical staff responsible for medical care at the event location, [and] what procedures were adopted to help Ana Clara,” according to the order, which CNN reported.
The National Consumer Secretariat will decide whether to file a formal complaint against Time For Fun after receiving their response.
