Taylor Swift ‘overwhelmed’ by grief over death of fan in sweltering heat at Brazil gig
Following the shock death of Ana Clara Benevides, 23, after she reportedly fainted in the front row of the Estádio Nilton Santos in Rio de Janeiro in temperatures that hit 60C to see Taylor Swift perform in the Brazil leg of her ‘Eras Tour’, the singer has said she is overwhelmed by grief over the tragedy.
Taylor Swift is “overwhelmed” by grief over one of her fan’s deaths amid the sweltering heat of a gig in Brazil.
The ‘Bad Blood’ singer, 33, opened up about her pain over the passing of Ana Clara Benevides, 23, who is said to have fainted ahead of her death on Friday (17.11.23) while she was in the front row of the Estádio Nilton Santos in Rio de Janeiro – in temperatures that hit 60C – to see Taylor perform in the Brazil leg of her ‘Eras Tour’.
Taylor said about the tragedy in a letter posted to her Instagram Stories on Saturday (18.11.23): “I can’t believe I’m writing these words but it is with a shattered heart that I say we lost a fan earlier tonight before my show.
“I can’t even tell you how devastated I am by this.”
Taylor added she has “very little information” about the fan’s death “other than the fact that she was so incredibly beautiful and far too young”.
She said: “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.”
Ana detailed the moments leading up to her death on social media, and showed how she waited hours to get into Estádio Nilton Santos.
One video showed the temperature was 35C – about 95F – outside the stadium.
Brazilian newspaper Folha de S.Paulo said the young woman fainted while she was in the front row.
It added she was “resuscitated at the stadium for about 40 minutes” and suffered a second cardiac arrest while on the way to the hospital, where she reportedly died soon after arrival.
Folha de S.Paulo also reported the heat index at the venue “reached 60C” or 140F and firefighters reportedly “counted a thousand faintings during the event”.
Fans on social media complained about not being allowed to bring water bottles into the stadium.
Taylor halted her show several times to ask for water on behalf of her fans, who were chanting for refreshments at one point.
The athletic department of the Federal University of Rondonópolis, where Benevides was studying psychology and served as a director, paid tribute to her online.
A post said: “Our sincere condolences to the family and friends in this difficult time. May they find comfort in the memories and love she left as a legacy.”
Taylor has two more concerts at the Estádio Nilton Santos stadium on Saturday and Sunday.
Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes announced that extra staff members, additional ambulances and new water distribution points will be added to the shows.
