Taylor Swift postponed her famous Eras Tour in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, after a 23-year-old fan died during her Friday night show. The Eras US tour, which began in Arizona in March and ended in Los Angeles in August, was credited with boosting local economies, increasing public transportation use, and generating a summer craze of friendship bracelets and girl power.
Swift's appearance in Brazil, however, turned sad before she ever took the stage, as concertgoers battled a punishing heatwave.
Deadly Heatwave in Brazil
The Brazilian Ministry of Culture announced that concertgoer 23-year-old Ana Clara Benevides Machado had been in the heat at the venue when she "suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest" just before Swift's debut show in the city on Friday at the Nilson Santos stadium.
"We extend our solidarity to the friends and family of the young woman, certain that the investigation of the entire situation will be swift and accurate," said the press release.
The singer-songwriter has extended her sympathy to the fan.
"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. I want to say now I feel this loss deeply and my broken 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," Swift said in a handwritten note on Instagram.
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Waters Not Allowed At The Venue
Seating for the Rio concerts is first-come, first-served, prompting some concertgoers to wait in lines outside the stadium-in the hot sun-for hours to obtain a spot inside.
Fans who attended the Friday event reported they were not allowed to bring water bottles inside the stadium, despite the fact that Rio and the rest of Brazil have been experiencing record-breaking temperatures this week as part of a deadly and long-lasting heat wave.
On Friday, the high temperature in Rio was 39.1 degrees Celsius (102.4 degrees Fahrenheit), but it seemed much hotter.
Elizabeth Morin, 26, who recently relocated to Rio from Los Angeles, described "sauna-like" circumstances.
"It was extremely hot. My hair got so wet from sweat as soon as I came in," she said. "There was a point at which I had to check my breathing to make sure I wasn't going to pass out."
The federal government stated that free water will now be accessible at concerts and other large events.
According to Justice Minister Flávio Dino on X, formerly known as Twitter, "water bottles for personal use, in suitable material, will be allowed" at concerts and festivals in Brazil coming ahead, and show producers must provide free and conveniently accessible drinking water.
Time For Fun, the Brazilian production company that organized Swift's Rio shows, issued a statement outlining new safety measures for the remaining shows, including allowing fans to bring in plastic water bottles, providing more water distribution points in and around the stadium, and providing more medical resources.
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