Nine days after the first concert of the “Eras Tour” in Rio de Janeiro on 17/11/2023 and the death of the 23-year-old fan Ana Clara Benevides, Taylor Swift performed again in Rio de Janeiro. This time, the family of the deceased Benevides was also in the audience. The invitation came directly from Taylor Swift who met the family.
“I can’t believe I’m writing these words, but it’s with a shattered heart that I say we lost a fan earlier tonight before my show,” the singer began. “I can’t even tell you how devastated I am by this. There’s very little information I have other than the fact she was so incredibly beautiful and far too young.
The Midnights songstress went on to say that she would not be able to talk about Benevides Machado during her concerts.
I’m not going to be able to speak about this from the stage because I feel overwhelmed by grief when I even try to talk about it,” she wrote. “I want to say now I feel this loss deeply and my heart goes out to her family and friends.
This is the last thing I ever thought would happen when we decided to bring this tour to Brazil.”
Taylor Swift wrote.
The family of Benevides, who died at the Taylor Swift concert, attended Swift’s performance in Rio and met the singer. At the concert, they wore t-shirts with the face of Ana Clara Benevides and took the opportunity to express their gratitude for the support of the community.
Record Heat Index in Rio de Janeiro during Taylor Swift Concerts
It’s still spring in Brazil, but a dangerous heat wave has gripped parts of the country. The heat index, which is a combination of temperature and humidity, reached 58.5°C. This is the highest value ever recorded.
Ana Clara Benevides was a victim of this heat wave that affected Brazil, but there are also suspicions of omissions in the organization of Taylor Swift’s concert in Rio. The fan got sick during the concert. She was transferred by ambulance to a nearby hospital, where she died. The incident prompted a review of the safety measures and concerns about the dangers to concertgoers in the hot weather.
After the tragic death of Ana Benevides, the government also intervened. It has ordered the event organizer T4F to implement heightened security measures for Taylor Swift’s remaining concerts in Brazil.
The circumstances surrounding Benevides’ death led to a wider investigation into T4F, the company responsible for organizing Taylor Swift’s concerts in Brazil. Rio de Janeiro police are investigating potential violations of “crime dangerous to life or health”. Allegations include a ban on water bottles at the sites despite the extreme temperatures, a factor that may have contributed to the tragedy.
In response to mounting criticism, T4F defended its position. Public authorities imposed the ban on water bottles, argued T4F. They do not participate in selling drinks and food during the concerts. The investigation seeks to determine if fans were prevented from bringing water and if there was negligence in providing assistance.
The Swifties Donated to Help the Benevides Family
In addition to the tragedy, Benevides’s family also faced challenges in returning the deceased fan’s body to her home state of Mato Grosso do Sul. The Swifties, Taylor Swift’s fans, initiated a collective fundraiser to cover the expenses of transporting Benevides to her home. Together they raised a significant amount and managed to achieve their goal. The incident revealed insufficient support from the event organizers in facilitating the transport of the deceased fan.
Visibly affected by the loss, Taylor Swift showed her grief on social media. She emphasized the profound impact Benevides’ death had on her and expressed her condolences to the family.
At the concerts that followed, Taylor added the song “Bigger Than The Whole Sky”. Some fans interpreted this song as Taylor Swift’s farewell to her late fan Anna Benevides.
