Brazilian Authorities Launch Investigation into Tragic Death of Taylor Swift Fan during ‘Eras Tour’
Brazilian authorities are probing the concert organizer of Taylor Swift's 'Eras Tour' following the tragic death of a fan Investigation underway into the company responsible for the incident
Taylor Swift TAS2023 via Getty Images
After the recent death of a Taylor Swift fan, Brazilian police are now taking further action. NBC News reported that officials have initiated an investigation into Time4Fun, the company in charge of organizing Swift’s Eras Tour stops in Rio de Janeiro. The investigation comes after Swift, 33, performed three shows at Estádio Nilton Santos earlier this month during an intense heat wave.
The Civil Police Department of Rio de Janeiro has launched an investigation into the death of 23-year-old Ana Clara Benevides Machado and the endangerment of the lives and health of those in attendance. Event organizers will be summoned to testify, and further measures are being taken to uncover the truth.
Time4Fun CEO Serafim Abreu publicly apologized on Thursday, November 23, to fans who had a less than optimal experience in Rio. "We understand the great responsibility we have in organizing an event of this magnitude, which is why we spared no effort or resources in adhering to the best global practices in our industry to ensure the comfort and safety of everyone," he stated.
Abreu admitted that "additional measures" could have been implemented to ensure the safety of those in the stadium despite the high temperatures.
On November 17, Swift expressed her grief over Machado’s passing on her Instagram Story, devastatingly explaining that she had limited information about the situation, but emphasized the beauty and youth of Machado. According to a statement from Time4Fun, Machado received immediate medical attention from firefighters and paramedics at the stadium after feeling unwell. Despite being transferred to Salgado Filho Hospital and receiving almost an hour of emergency care, Machado tragically passed away.
Swift's concert scheduled for November 18 was postponed due to severe weather, but she returned to the stage on November 19 and 20. During the acoustic portion of her November 19 show, Swift delivered a powerful performance of the Midnights ballad "Bigger Than the Whole Sky," a song that many fans believe was chosen in Machado's honor.
Weiny Machado, the father of Ana Clara, fondly remembered his "happy and bright" daughter in a sincere statement to the local newspaper Folha de São Paulo after her passing. "She was on the brink of graduating in Psychology next April, and had been saving money. I am at a loss for words to express my agony," he shared. "She left home to pursue a dream and returned in a tragic manner."
While the cause of her death remains unconfirmed, Weiny has called on authorities to conduct a thorough investigation. "I want to know if they were actually prohibited from bringing water [into the stadium], if there was negligence in providing assistance," he stated. "I am aware that [Swift] was distributing water to her fans, and that is unacceptable for an event of this magnitude. Nothing can bring my daughter back, but I hope that if negligence is proven, someone will be held accountable, so that this tragedy doesn't repeat itself."
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Don't miss out on Swift's three final concerts of the year in São Paulo from Friday, November 24th to Sunday, November 26th. Following Ana Clara's death, Justice Minister Flávio Dino has announced that fans can now bring water bottles into the venues.
As she prepares to conclude this leg of her Eras Tour, a source exclusively revealed to We that Swift is feeling "incredibly grateful" to have boyfriend Travis Kelce for support following Ana Clara's passing. The insider shared that she was devastated and struggling to discuss the tragedy, and that her team reached out to the fan's family.
