Annie Walton Doyle
Tragedy struck at a Taylor Swift concert in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this weekend.
Swift, 33, is known as one of the biggest names in pop music right now.
The ‘Shake It Off’ singer’s Eras tour has taken the world by storm over the past 12 months and is one of the most lucrative of all time.
It’s not been without controversy, though, with some critics accusing Swift of utilising satanic imagery in some of her acts.
Swift’s highly publicised relationship with Travis Kelce, the tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, has also brought headlines to many of her more recent tour dates.
But her concert in Rio de Janeiro on Friday, November 17, was hit with a much more serious controversy.
And it seems as though it’s had a worrying impact on Swift’s health.
Watch the concerning clip of Taylor Swift ‘struggling to breathe’ during her Eras tour below…
oh my god my heart dropped I thought she was gonna faint https://t.co/rCLJCuRUUg
— luca⸆⸉ (@MoonT0Saturn) November 18, 2023
Brazil is currently experiencing an extreme heat wave, which, when combined with high levels of humidity, poses a very real risk to human life.
Temperatures in Rio de Janeiro were recorded as high as 59.3C (138.7F) on Friday followed by 59.7C (139.5) on Saturday, as per The Guardian.
Fans in attendance at Swift’s Eras tour were subjected to these dangerous temperatures. Things were so intense that one tragically lost their life.
23-year-old Ana Clara Benevides Machado reportedly sought help from concert organisers after feeling unwell. She was taken to a nearby hospital but died shortly after.
Machado’s cause of death was recorded as cardiorespiratory arrest, according to Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo.
Alongside this horrifying loss of life, other attendees suffered in the Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos. In videos circulating on social media, Swift was spotted trying to help her overheating fans.
At one point, during ‘All Too Well’, she was spotted handing out water bottles into the crowd. Swift was also seen asking stadium staff to distribute water amongst her fans.
Following the tragedy, Swift took to Instagram stories to share her devastating statement.
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The ‘Anti-Hero’ artist said: “I can’t believe I’m writing these words but it is with shattered heart that I say we lost a fan earlier tonight before my show.
“I can’t even tell you how devastated I am by this. There’s very little information I have, other than the fact that she was so incredibly beautiful and far too young.
“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.
“I want to say now I feel this loss deeply and my broken 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 cancelled her Saturday showing following Machado’s heartbreaking death. Her show on November 20 is set to go ahead, as per the BBC.
Rio’s Mayor Eduardo Paes spoke out on X (formerly known as Twitter), requesting the venue provide more access to water and better emergency procedures.
Brazil’s Justice Minister Flávio Dino posted a demand for venues to allow fans to bring their own water bottles.
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But following the controversy, another worrying video from Friday’s concert has gone viral.
In it, Swift herself seems to be suffering in the extreme heat and even appears to be struggling to breathe.
One fan wrote: “OMG… this breaks my heart on so many levels. She’s so professional but watching her like this, my best wishes go to her.”
Another added: “Oh my god my heart dropped I thought she was gonna faint!”
“Damn, she still kept performing,” commented somebody else.
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