21st November 2023 – (Rio de Janeiro) The three-day Rio de Janeiro leg of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour has left many of her Brazilian fans angry and disappointed. The tour, which concludes on Monday night, was overshadowed by the deaths of two fans, reports of muggings, and a dangerous heat wave.
Gabriel Mongenot Santana Milhomem Santos, a 25-year-old fan who had travelled from the country’s centre-west region to see Swift, was tragically stabbed to death on Copacabana beach in the early hours of Monday, according to a statement by Rio’s police.
This marked the second death of a Swift fan in just four days. On Friday, 23-year-old Ana Clara Benevides Machado fell ill during the singer’s first show in the city and later passed away at a hospital.
In addition to the tragic deaths, fans also faced extreme heat, with some reporting fainting spells. Incidents of muggings and encounters with police raids were also reported.
The first show on Friday saw fans lining up for hours outside the Nilton Santos Olympic Stadium in scorching temperatures that reached 41 degrees Celsius (105 Fahrenheit), with a heat index of nearly 59 C (138 F). Inside the stadium, concertgoers complained of unbearable heat and difficulties accessing water.
Due to the extreme temperatures, Swift postponed the show, disappointing tens of thousands of fans who had been waiting for hours in the heat. The decision to postpone the show was announced on Instagram, citing the necessity of prioritizing the safety of the attendees.
Videos shared on social media highlighted the chaos that ensued outside the stadium following the postponement. Pickpockets took advantage of the situation, robbing fans of their belongings. Many sought refuge inside a nearby Burger King, while heavily armed police conducted a raid. Some concertgoers were overcharged by taxi drivers as they attempted to leave the area.
The Saturday show was rescheduled for Monday night, but many fans, including those who had travelled from outside the country, had already made travel arrangements and were unable to attend.
The tragic incidents and security issues have marred Taylor Swift’s Rio de Janeiro leg of the Eras Tour, leaving fans frustrated and saddened. Swift herself expressed her sorrow over the death of Ana Clara Benevides Machado, stating that it left her with a “shattered heart.”