Fans are upset with how Taylor Swift is handling a fan's death at the Eras Tour in Brazil (everything you need to know)
Seeing the overwhelming reach of many Brazilian readers contacting me and emailing me to talk about this, definitely pushed this topic to the top of my list. I originally wasn’t going to talk about it because it’s heartbreaking as it is, but you guys have made a lot of good points following the aftermath and Taylor’s role, so let’s talk about it.
Many people are hurt by Taylor for reasons I will get into and many people started actively protesting the organizers of the show which many believe their carlessness is what led to the fan’s death.
My video that’s coming to YouTube this upcoming week will go into more detail
Scorching Heat of 140 Degrees Fahrenheit
Taylor had a show in southern Brazil in Rio De Janeiro on November 17th. It’s a city of nearly 12 million people and on that day there were reports of intense heat, where the temperature was 100 degrees Fahrenheit but the heat index—which is a measure that takes into account both air temperature and humidity said it was more like 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
This is an extremely dangerous climate because people can only handle heat like that for a few hours before they start to get sick or unfortunately for Ana Clara Benevides Machado–they can die.
RIP Ana :((((((
So we got one thing down so far; the temperature was scorching. This was horrible for fans who had to wait hours in the blazing sun waiting to get into the venue, with many having no water to drink.
Fans complained about the safety precautions that the venue never took into place. For starters– you were not allowed to bring your own water bottles into the venue.
Imagine the temperature is 140 degrees Fahrenheit and venues care more about over-charging you for water rather than allowing you to bring your own.
There are videos of fans chanting for water in the middle of Taylor’s sets, where she stopped the show a few times to have security bring out water bottles for the fans. Unfortunately, they ran out and there wasn’t enough. On top of that, it was reported that 1,000 fans fainted. On top of that, the venue covered the grass with metal flooring and fans reported burns on their feet.
@abcnews Taylor Swift directed crews to hand out water bottles to some fans during her Friday night Eras Tour concert in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Swift postponed her Saturday night show due to “extreme temperatures," expressing that "the safety and well-being of my fans, fellow performers, and crew has to and will always come first." The postponement comes a day after a fan died at her concert. #taylorswift #erastour #erastourtaylorswift #brazil ♬ original sound - ABC News
The venue had closed off certain parts of the stage so that onlookers who didn’t buy tickets couldn’t get a peak of what was happening. Fans complained that the venue felt like it was closing in on them aiding in the heat and so did Taylor’s special effects from the stage.
Ana Clara Benevides Machado
Ana Clara Benevides Machado was a 23-year-old Swiftie who fell sick during Taylor’s concert and lost consciousness mid-set during Taylor’s Cruel Summer.
im literally gonna cry
After getting some medical attention she was taken in an ambulance and died on the way to the hospital. It was reported that she suffered a heart attack.
May she rest in peace.
Taylor wrote on her Instagram stories:
Fans were also mad at the Ai letter that was put out as a sentimental handwritten letter from Taylor when many fans pointed out the spacing between the words is perfect like it was typed up—not written.
Why Fans Are Mad at Taylor
What happened isn’t Taylor's fault, but fans are criticizing Taylor’s response and behavior afterward which even shocked me of all people.
Buda Mendes/TAS23 Getty Images
I’ve always said that Taylor Swift truly cares about her fans and staff. It’s why so many people are devoted to her including her employees. She cares about treating people right because she knows that is the way to their hearts and loyalty.
So when news came out that Taylor and her team did nothing to support this girl’s family, it was very shocking, to say the least.
@entertainmenttonight Taylor Swift handed out water bottles to overheated and dehydrated fans mid-performance during her Eras Tour in Rio. Temperatures exceeded over 100 degrees, and the stadium reportedly banned fans from bringing their own water bottles. Tragically, a 23-year-old Swiftie lost her life before the show started. (🎥: Twitter/X - dvsdvsdvs_)
♬ original sound - Entertainment Tonight
The girl's body was in Rio de Janeiro 3 days straight because her family couldn’t afford to transport her body back to her home city.
Many of the interviews are in Portuguese so all the gruesome details aren’t being published by mainstream media because it makes everyone look bad; so shoutout to everyone translating and reaching out to get the correct story out there.
Ana’s dad said, “I lost my only daughter, a happy intelligent girl. She was about to graduate in psychology next April, saving money. I have no words to express my pain. She left home to fulfill a dream, and came back dead.”
This is so heartbreaking, and Taylor not giving the family any financial support isn’t like her. The fact that Swifties had to organize a GoFundMe to help the family transport Ana’s body is crazy.
Ana’s mom on a live said, “Thank God, we reached the goal this morning. We got an amount that allows us to do everything we wanted. Thank God, a lot of people have donated.”
It definitely rubs me the wrong way that instead of Taylor reaching out to the family and taking care of their financial situations, she just sat back and watched her own fans raise money to help this poor girl's family.
And then she had the audacity to say that she can’t speak about it because she’s overwhelmed with grief when in reality, that’s probably what her lawyers are telling her to do. If Ana’s family can speak about it, so can Taylor.
And I spoke to a few of my sources about this and they all agree that she’s being advised against saying anything publicly because if Ana’s family decides to sue, which they probably will, she can’t say anything to incriminate herself.
But again… Taylor didn’t do anything wrong at the concert. She herself looked like she was going to faint from the heat.
@celebritybases This video breaks me heart 🥺🥺💔 #taylorswift #theerastour #swifttok #erastour #fyp #brasil @Taylor Swift ♬ Softcore (I'm too consumed with my own life) - The Neighbourhood
LMAO not the panic attack story… they took a page out of a certain fanbase’s book.
The main issue people have is what happened AFTER…
The least she could've done was help out the family instead of Ana’s body staying in Rio for THREE days because the costs to transport her back home were too much.
We are talking about a musician on her way to make a billion dollars–if she hasn’t already, there is no amount too high for a life, a life that’s lost all because they wanted to come see you.
Instead, Taylor used “AI” to write a handwritten note, and has her PR team running with stories about how “Travis Kelce is such a good boyfriend in times of need :(“
Are you kidding me? Taylor, are you really going to ditch the family because in your head you probably think you owe them nothing, but yet use the story to fulfill this narrative of you and Travis?
I sure hope Taylor isn’t the one who gave the green light for that story, but as we all know, all these sources running to the media literally do so with a command from the talent. In shorter terms, it’s Taylor through a publicist sending out information to the articles..
They’re using this to take away from the gruesome details revealed in Portuguese interviews and deliberately not picked up by the US media.
Now what’s even more sick besides Taylor’s absence to help this family, is that she has her PR team make it look like she’s reaching out and helping behind closed doors!
IMAGINE THAT! Imagine having to lie when all you could simply do was reach out and help?
This is a girl who lost her life seeing you in concert, who fainted not before the show BUT DURING THE SHOW, and the only thing you’re doing is spreading lies of being helpful and running a story about Travis being a good boyfriend??
Ana’s own friend came out and denied the fact that Taylor helped. Ana’s own mother clearly thanked the FANS who raised money, not billion-dollar-”I’m-the-biggest-popstar-” Taylor-Swift.
And knowing Taylor she probably thought, “I was having a hard time breathing on stage too, I’m the one rushing in/out of sweaty clothes in the middle of a heatwave, with all the lights on me too.”
And I get if she felt that way, everyone praised her for pulling through, but that’s still not enough of a reason to leave the family dry and high and then use the story for some good PR about you and your NFL-star boyfriend.
The girl isn’t from a wealthy family, these are working-class people, her mom helped her save up to go see Taylor only for her not to return. Do you know how much regret her parents probably feel? Their entire world changed overnight while the rest of us can feel bad and move on with our lives, they will always remember sending their daughter off to see her idol and not coming back home.
Mom of Taylor Swift fan who died at Brazil concert gets emotional over Swifties’ help to return daughter’s body after blasting show organizers. Link
Again, I’m not blaming Taylor for anything… if she couldn’t find the right things to say then okay stay quiet. Her death is not on you by any means.
I think my only issue with this situation is how it was used in the media to promote her relationship with Travis and mask it as if Taylor did something to help when she didn’t at all. It’s one thing to stay silent, it’s another to pretend you helped. That’s the main issue.
And who knows? She may help and do something now, but after what? After your fans bullied you into it?
A reader from Brazil has sent me their thoughts in an email and I want you guys to read it because a lot of Brazilian fans have been receiving hate that they feel is racist and some are hurt believing that Taylor would care more if the fan was American.
And thank you to the reader who emailed me because you spilled. She’s totally right.
I have seen a lot of Swifties online act as if this outrage from Brazil was something primitive almost as if they’re acting wild and dangerous, when in reality most of these people have a right to feel this way.
I even saw fans say, “Taylor should never come to Brazil; it’s not safe for her” or some fans saying they were worried about Taylor “making it back home alive”
I don’t even know what to say. Fans are upset because they feel like Taylor doesn’t care for them. She loves being international but when it comes to caring for international fans she fell flat. I’m not saying she doesn’t care and love her fans–I’ve always preached the opposite but she could’ve done more.
It’s as simple as that.
This is not the first time someone died by attending a concert that didn’t take correct measurements or precautions. The fact that they’re trying to petition a law named after Ana for the purpose of getting a basic need like water is a step in the right direction.
Someone also messaged me on YouTube saying:
It’s such a saddening situation.
For starters….
The organizers messed up how the event was handled especially with the weather being the 8th massive heat wave they had this year alone. They could have canceled it beforehand. Instead, the next show was postponed after Ana’s death.
Taylor should’ve done more than write her little note and claim she was too upset to talk about this situation. I can see why fans are upset.
And again… I see it from Taylor’s POV as well. She probably can’t speak publicly but then again, sometimes showing humanity is a little bit better than showing how business savvy you are.
Here are some more tweets from fans:
Now this one Swiftie went off on everyone involved saying:
They have my vote!
Well there you guys have it… what we have learned so far about this situation and our thoughts. We send our love and prayers to Ana’s friends and family and we send our love to Brazil.
I hope everyone stays safe in these dangerous climate conditions. Hopefully moving forward concerts can resume to being a safe place for ALL concertgoers.
I’m sure Taylor feels horrible and will probably make it right within time as well. RIP Ana :(