Entertainment
Taylor Swift returns to the Rio stage after fan’s death, show postponement
Taylor Swift returned to the Rio de Janeiro stage Sunday after a heavy weekend following the death of a 23-year-old fan.
“How lucky do you have to be to have 65,000 people dance in the pouring rain with you?” she asked the crowd at the top of the show. “I’ve never gotten to bring a tour to Brazil before and you’ve been so supportive to me ever since the beginning of my career.”
Swift added, “I love you so much and I’m so happy to see your faces tonight you have no idea.” Later on during the singer’s set, the crowd erupted after “Champagne Problems” as Swift teared up mouthing “I love you,” according to social media footage.
More precautions were put in place Sunday following the death of Ana Clara Benevides Machado, who attended the Eras Tour on Friday night. As a result of Benevides’ death, Swift informed fans via an Instagram statement that the Friday show would be postponed “due to the extreme temperatures in Rio.”
“The safety and well being of my fans, fellow performers, and crew has to and always will come first,” Swift added in the handwritten note.
During Sunday’s show, firefighters sprayed the crowd with water outside of the Nilton Santos Olympic Stadium to help fans stay cool. Free water, cups and handheld fans were also provided to concertgoers.
Recently: Taylor Swift fan dies at the Eras Rio tour amid heat wave. Mayor calls for water for next shows
Swift made no mention of the death of Benevides or the postponed show.
On Friday, in a separate social media statement, Swift wrote: “I’m not going to be able to speak about this from stage because I feel overwhelmed by grief when I even try to talk about it.”
The show’s organizer, Time4Fun (@t4f on Instagram), released a statement on Sunday, announcing that free water would be available at all entrances to the stadium as well as inside.
They said sealed bottles and sealed processed food would also be permitted. Two hundred more employees were hired to join the 1,230 professionals who have been working the event, including security guards, brigade members, audience advisors and medical care staff.
More: Taylor Swift plays new surprise songs in Brazil
What happened to Ana Clara Benevides Machado at Taylor Swift’s show?
Benevides’ cause of death has not yet been announced. She had sought medical attention at the stadium and local media reports from Brazil said she suffered cardiac arrest.
The death shook many fans and politicians in Brazil. Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes said the “loss of a young woman’s life … is unacceptable,” in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
Rio’s public prosecutor opened a criminal investigation and said Benevides’ body was being examined.
According to the news site G1, per The Associated Press, Machado created a WhatsApp group to keep her family updated with photos and videos of her trip. She took her first-ever flight across Brazil to watch her favorite artist perform live. The friend who went to the concert with Machado said she began to feel ill during “Cruel Summer,” the second song in the Eras Tour set.
Saturday’s show was postponed to Monday due to the excessive heat. Swift has one more stop on the 2023 leg of the Eras Tour: São Paulo, Brazil.
Follow Bryan West, the USA TODAY Network’s Taylor Swift reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @BryanWestTV.
More: Taylor Swift postpones Saturday Rio show due to high temperatures
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