Taylor Swift Says She Is 'Devastated' After Fan Dies Shortly Before Brazil Eras Tour Show

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"I feel this loss deeply and my heart goes out to her family and friends," the singer said

<p>Buda Mendes/TAS23/Getty, Taylor Swift/Instagram</p>

Buda Mendes/TAS23/Getty, Taylor Swift/Instagram

Taylor Swift is speaking out after a tragedy took place at her latest Eras Tour show.

The singer, 33, shared a handwritten note on her Instagram Story Friday, in which she said that her heart was “shattered” by the death of a fan ahead of her concert at Estadio Nilton Santos in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

One of the event organizers, Time for Fun, announced in a post shared on X, formerly Twitter, that the fan who died was 23-year-old Ana Clara Benevides Machado. In the post, written in Portuguese, they said that Benevides Machado had felt unwell at the venue and was attended to by first responders, before being transferred to Salagdo Filho Hospital, where she died.

“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,” Swift began her social media statement.

“I can’t even tell you how devastated I am by this," she continued. "There’s very little information I have other than the fact she was so incredibly beautiful and far too young.”

<p>Taylor Swift/Instagram</p> Taylor Swift posts a note on her Instagram Story describing her "grief" after a fan died ahead of her Friday night Eras Tour show in Brazil

Taylor Swift/Instagram

Taylor Swift posts a note on her Instagram Story describing her "grief" after a fan died ahead of her Friday night Eras Tour show in Brazil

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Swift, who played the first of three shows at Estadio Nilton Santos on Friday, added that she would not be able to speak about the fan’s death during her performances because of the “grief” she felt.

“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,” Swift concluded her heartfelt message.

<p>Buda Mendes/TAS23/Getty</p> Taylor Swift performs onstage during "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour" at Estadio Olimpico Nilton Santos on November 17, 2023 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro

Buda Mendes/TAS23/Getty

Taylor Swift performs onstage during "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour" at Estadio Olimpico Nilton Santos on November 17, 2023 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro

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Thiago Fernandes, a friend of Benevides, told local news outlet Fohla De S. Paulo, "I want Ana to appear on the screens at Taylor's show."

He also posted a tribute to his friend on Instagram Friday. A translation of his post, which was written in Portuguese, said, in part, “I just can't believe your [sic] gone I can't accept that. We talked about this show so many times, and how I wish I was with you."

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Fan footage captured and shared on X earlier in the night from the show showed Swift pausing her performance to ask that water be brought to fans.

"There's people that need water, right here," Swift said as she stood and pointed at a section of the crowd where fans appeared to be waving empty water bottles in the air. "So whoever is in charge of giving them that, please come and make sure that that happens."

<p>Buda Mendes/TAS23/Getty</p> Taylor Swift performs onstage at Estadio Olimpico Nilton Santos on November 17, 2023 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro

Buda Mendes/TAS23/Getty

Taylor Swift performs onstage at Estadio Olimpico Nilton Santos on November 17, 2023 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro

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Another video posted by a concertgoer from around the same moment showed Swift again pointing out where the fans in the crowd who needed water were.

"Sorry, it's just it's very hot, so if somebody says they need water when it's this hot, they really need it," she said from the stage.

"We don't need to chant, it's totally fine. But, we just need to get water to them," Swift told the crowd, before appearing to speak to someone in the audience and confirming that water was being brought to those who needed it.

Swift's latest concert took place after she received a warm welcome to Brazil for the latest leg of her Eras Tour.

Following recent shows in Buenos Aires — where she was supported by boyfriend Travis Kelce — the singer arrived in Sao Paulo on Thursday to a projection on the city's famous Christ the Redeemer statue.

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A photo posted on X showed the impressive projection — a white shirt that featured symbols found in Swift's songs, including a scarf, which seemed to reference her Red hit "All Too Well" and a bow and arrow, which appeared to reference her Lover track "The Archer." The projection also included the names of Brazil's states.

In a video posted to X, which has been translated from Portuguese to English, Mayor Eduardo Paes said a projection would be showcased on the statue on Thursday, comparing Swift's presence in Brazil to that of Michael Jackson and Madonna.

"We will properly honor Taylor Swift and her arrival to Carioca territory tonight," he said in the video, adding, "Welcome, Taylor Swift."

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