Father of fan who died at Taylor Swift concert speaks out
The father of Ana Benevides, a Taylor Swift fan who died at the singer’s concert in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has spoken out about her death.
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The family of Ana Clara Benevides Machado, the young Taylor Swift fan who died in Río de Janeiro on November 17, attended the final night of the Eras Tour in São Paulo, Brazil.
According to Folha de S.Paulo, a Brazilian newspaper, Swift met with the family in Brazil before the show. They posted a photo of Machado’s family with Swift on Instagram and reported that the family watched the concert from one of the VIP tents on the floor. Benevides’ family all wear a T-shirt with her face on it.
It’s unclear whether Benevides’ family was personally invited by Swift and her team.
A Swift fan page also shared footage on Instagram.
Benevides died during the heat warning on the first night in Rio de Janeiro.
“I can’t believe I’m writing these words, but with a broken heart I say we lost a fan before my show tonight,” Swift said in an Instagram Story message a few hours after the show. “I can’t tell you how devastated I am about this.”
According to news site G1, Benevides created a WhatsApp group to keep her family updated with photos and videos of her trip, according to The Associated Press. Benevides sent the family members a video broadcast by Globo News television, telling them: “Mom, look at the plane, it’s moving.” Mom, I’m on the plane. Oh my goodness! I am happy!”
She then posted a video of herself on Instagram before the concert wearing a Taylor Swift T-shirt and friendship bracelets and seeking shade under an umbrella while waiting in line at the stadium entrance.
Benevides’ friend Daniele Menin, who attended the concert with her, told online news site G1 that her friend fainted at the start of the concert when Swift performed her second song, “Cruel Summer.”
More: As police investigate the death of a fan at the Taylor Swift show, security expert shares concert tips
Speaking to USA TODAY, experts questioned whether Brazil tour producer Time For Fun had adequate security measures in place for Taylor Swift’s Rio de Janeiro show. Time For Fun’s CEO said the company could have taken more precautions.
Andrea Davis, president and CEO of Resiliency Initiative, a global consulting firm focused on crisis management and risk mitigation planning, had no insight into the fair’s planning. But she says: “It was a big mistake.”
Davis has 25 years of experience in emergency management and has worked with companies such as Disney and Wal-Mart, as well as events such as the World Cup and the New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square.
“They should have known about the weather,” she says. “There should have been protocols in place for the venue. They should have ensured that the water was accessible, that there was enough water and that if they ran out of water there was a way to get more. They should have had cooling stations and atomizers. And “Was the staff trained to go out and see if someone was having problems and ask them for help?”
As Swift’s Eras tour resumes next summer in Europe – where a heat wave closed the Acropolis in Greece as temperatures rose too high and where the city of Rome set up water stations to help tourists – Davis recommends that Swift’s team be there helps ensure the safety of concertgoers.
Swift’s Eras Tour is set to end in 2023. She will continue the tour in Tokyo, Japan in February 2024.
More: Taylor Swift returns to Rio stage after fan’s death, show postponed
Follow USA TODAY Network Taylor Swift reporter Bryan West on Instagram, TikTok and X as @BryanWestTV