In a somber turn of events, Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated concert in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday night has been postponed following the tragic death of a fan just before the event. Ana Clara Benevides Machado, 23, received medical attention at the venue but sadly passed away at a hospital an hour later.
The concert’s organizers, Time4Fun (T4F), confirmed the fan’s passing and attributed the postponement to the extreme temperatures in Rio. Swift, taking to her Instagram story, expressed her deep sadness and emphasized that the safety and well-being of fans, fellow performers, and crew must always take precedence.
Swift, 33, revealed her devastation over the news, describing the fan as “incredibly beautiful and far too young.” Expressing her condolences, Swift extended her sympathy to the fan’s family and friends, acknowledging that such a tragedy was the last thing expected when bringing the tour to Brazil.
The Brazilian city has been experiencing record-breaking temperatures, with Rio reaching a daytime high of 39.1°C on Friday. Reports from concertgoers suggested sweltering conditions at the Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos, where the event took place.
Swift temporarily halted the show to distribute water to fans, responding to their chants of “Water, water, water, water.” Witnesses mentioned the singer throwing a bottle of water to the crowd during her performance.
Brazil’s justice minister, Flávio Dino, announced the implementation of “emergency rules” regarding access to water at public events in light of the tragic incident. Rio de Janeiro’s mayor, Eduardo Paes, deemed the loss of a young woman’s life unacceptable and outlined demands for enhanced safety measures at future events.
While authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the fan’s death, there are calls for increased water distribution points, additional ambulances, and adjusted entry times for upcoming shows. Swift is scheduled to perform three more shows in São Paulo as part of her two-year world tour.
After the Rio de Janeiro concert, Swift is set to kick off the UK leg of her tour in June 2024, with performances in Edinburgh, Liverpool, Cardiff, and a series of concerts at Wembley in London, concluding in August.
