A tearful Taylor Swift returned to the stage in Rio de Janeiro for the first time on Sunday following the tragic death of a 23-year-old fan on Friday.
Just a day after she had to postpone her show due to sweltering temperatures, the singer thanked everyone who braved the record-breaking heat and rain to support her.
“How lucky do you have to be to have 65,000 people dancing with you in the pouring rain?” she asked the crowd. “I have never had the opportunity to go to Brazil on a tour and you have been so supportive since the beginning of my career.”
Swift continued, “I love you so much and I’m so excited to see your faces tonight, you have no idea.” Later during the singer’s performance, the crowd erupted to “Champagne Problems” as Swift, according to social media footage burst into tears and said “I love you.”
Emotional: A tearful Taylor Swift returned to the stage in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday for the first time following the tragic death of a 23-year-old fan who succumbed to extreme heat on Friday
Brave face: Just a day after she had to postpone her show due to sweltering temperatures, the 33-year-old pop star thanked everyone in attendance for braving the record-breaking heat and rain to support her
Devastating: On Friday, 23-year-old Ana Clara Benevides fainted in the front row and was resuscitated by doctors at the scene, but they were unable to revive her
After performing her hit song “Champagne Problems” on the piano, she appeared emotional and crying as the audience erupted in applause.
In response to the tears, she loudly shouted “I love you” to the concertgoers.
Their second show comes at a time when Brazil is experiencing an unprecedented heatwave and fans were reportedly not allowed to bring water to the highly anticipated concert despite the sweltering temperatures.
On Friday, 23-year-old Ana Clara Benevides fainted in the front row and was resuscitated by doctors at the scene, but they were unable to revive her.
She was transported to a hospital where she suffered a second cardiac arrest and died.
Footage from the concert shows Swift begging stadium staff to give her fans water. At some point during the show, the singer stopped the performance and threw a water bottle into the crowd.
Benevides was admitted to the Salgado Filho Municipal Hospital but died soon afterwards.
Fans subsequently claimed they were banned from bringing water into the venue, although this has not been confirmed.
“How lucky do you have to be to have 65,000 people dancing with you in the pouring rain?” she asked the crowd. “I’ve never had the opportunity to go to Brazil on a tour and you’ve been so supportive since the beginning of my career” (seen on Friday)
Scary situation: On Friday, footage from the concert shows Swift begging stadium staff to give her fans water
“I can’t believe I’m writing these words, but with your heartbreak I say we lost a fan before my show tonight.” “I can’t tell you how devastated I am about this,” she posted after learning of Benevides’ death
In a handwritten note posted on Instagram, Swift spoke of her shock and announced that she would be canceling her Saturday night performance, stating that the risks were too high for the show to go ahead.
“I can’t believe I’m writing these words, but with your heartbreak I say we lost a fan before my show tonight.” “I can’t tell you how devastated I am about this,” she posted.
“I won’t be able to talk about it on stage because if I even try to talk about it I’ll be overcome with grief.”
“I want to say now that I feel this loss deeply and my heartbreak goes out to her family and friends.” “That was the last thing I ever thought would happen when we decided to bring the show to Brazil.”
A frightening clip shared on TikTok appeared to show Swift struggling to breathe as temperatures in the arena soared to over 37C. In the 11-second clip, Swift can be seen quickly taking seven breaths before launching into another of her hits.
“There were people crying, people throwing tantrums and hoping it was all a lie, in short, it was terrible,” said student Victor Guimaraes, who was again in line for the singer’s performance on Sunday to see.
On Sunday it was announced that a second fan in Rio de Janeiro had died after being fatally stabbed on Saturday.
Gabriel Milhomem Santos was killed just hours after taking part in the world tour at the Nilton Santos Olympic Stadium in the Brazilian city.
The 25-year-old, who was wearing a ‘Swifities’ friendship bracelet, was reportedly stabbed in the early hours of Sunday while resting on the famous Copacabana beach.
Swift megafan Gabriel had traveled to Rio from Belo Horizonte, where he was studying aeronautical engineering, to see the singer’s show.
Tragic: On Sunday it was announced that a second fan named Gabriel Milhomem Santos died in Rio de Janerio after being fatally stabbed on Saturday
He was with two cousins when the group decided to stop by the city’s famous Copacabana Beach for a swim in the sea in the early hours of Sunday.
According to his cousins, Gabriel had dozed off on the sand when three robbers approached the group and was stabbed when he suddenly woke up in the middle of the attack.
The robbers took the keys to the group’s rental apartment and two cellphones, but two were later arrested by police.
Two of the robbers, Alan Ananias Calvacante and Anderson Henriques Brandão, had been released hours earlier after being arrested for stealing 80 bars of chocolate.
A third man, Jonathan Batista Barbosa, who reportedly committed 10 additional crimes, is still on the run.
Swift has not yet commented on Gabriel’s death.