Taylor Swift Fan Dies At Eras Tour: What Fans Have To Say

Taylor Swift Fan Ana Clara Benevides Machado, 23, died after being helped by paramedics after attending the artist’s Eras Tour. According to PBS.org temperatures reached 138 degrees at the venue due to the heat wave hitting Rio De Janeiro all week and the number of people only increased the heat.

The rules about bringing water into concerts at the venue were previously prohibited, which led to fans yelling at Taylor Swift throughout the show that they needed water. Swift tried her best to get people to share water,  but the shortage was too great as many fans were injured.

Machado passed out during the second song of the set “Cruel Summer” after reporting to her friend that she felt sick, according to the G1 Brazilian news outlet. The two had been seen wearing Taylor Swift apparel before the concert from Benevides’s Instagram and had said to G1(Brazilian media source) “We always said that when Taylor Swift came to Brazil we would find a way to go. The ticket was very expensive, but we still found a way.” After she passed out Benevides was rushed to the hospital where she passed away from heat-induced cardiac arrest. 

Swift shared two handwritten letters through her Instagram following her concert: “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” and “This is the last thing I ever thought would happen when we decided to bring this tour to Brazil.” Fans immediately took to social media, saying “We will stay” and added the phrase to profile pictures and bios across all platforms. Fans added this phrase to their stories including videos showcasing their understanding of the tragedy. “Honestly the first show probably shouldn’t have happened if it were that hot, but I imagine the pressure of making that decision would have been so hard.” “I think her passing is very tragic, but more so because it could have 100% been prevented. I hope that Ana’s family is able to go after the venue for their negligence,” WHS Counselor Molly Watkins said. 

The following day supplies still had not been provided leading Swift to close the venue and postpone the show after fans had already arrived. Fans were upset and followed her to her hotel room where they stayed outside shouting in upset. 

On the third day that Sunday, Swift secured drinking water for her fans allowing the show to go on. Fans were still in shock from Benevides’s death; unsure how the show would turn out considering Swift’s statement “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.” 

Towards the end of the concert right before she enters her “Midnights Era” she plays two surprise songs consisting of songs from her vast catalog that do not normally appear on stage. That night she chose “Bigger Than The Whole Sky”, a song from “Midnights” about grieving and remembering. Her second song was the highly anticipated “Dancing With Our Hands Tied” which is from Ana’s favorite album “Reputation”. Swifties around the world honored Ana that night. Senior at Waukee High School Abby Wilhelm said this about the surprise songs “I think that adding Bigger Than The Whole Sky was a very nice choice on her part, to honor Ana. It was the perfect song for the situation. It honored her well in that moment.” 

Fans have been adamant about showing their support for the artist and respect for Ana. Despite this tragedy, both fans and artists have been able to honor Ana and change the policies in place that caused her passing. Wilhelm also tells her take on the situation “I definitely do not blame Taylor for this. It wasn’t her who decided the stadium’s policies, and through the night she was even trying to hand water out to people and have security check on them. She wasn’t the one denying them water, or ignoring the situation.”