Taylor Swift: Rio de Janeiro

By Amity Hoque, Editor-in-Chief • December 17, 2023

The three-day Rio de Janeiro pop sensation Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour ends on Monday night, leaving furious and dissatisfied Brazilian fans in the wake of two fatalities, muggings, and a hazardous heat wave.

After traveling from the country’s center-west to watch Swift, a fan called Gabriel Mongenot Santana Milhomem Santos, 25, was tragically stabbed on Copacabana beach. There was a second Swift fan death in only four days. Ana Clara Benevides Machado, 23, became ill after her debut performance in the city on Friday and passed away suddenly in a hospital later that evening.

Additionally, fans claimed experiencing heat stroke, being robbed, or becoming entangled in a police raid. The precise reason for Benevides’ death is still unknown. However, the Rio Municipal Health Department indicated that she had cardiorespiratory arrest while listening to Swift’s second song, “Cruel Summer,” as reported by a friend. According to the online news source G1, Rio’s Forensic Medical Institute inspected the remains on Saturday and stated that more laboratory testing was necessary.

Swift said she had a “shattered heart” after learning of Benevides’ passing in an Instagram message. Fans waited in line outside the Nilton Santos Olympic Stadium for hours before the event on Friday. The temperature there spiked to 41 degrees Celsius. People inside the stadium had to bear the oppressive heat, and several said it was hard for them to acquire water.

“I never thought my dream could become a nightmare,” fan Kléssia Menezes remarked after she and hundreds of other fans were trapped on a ramp leading to a VIP section on Saturday due to security personnel blocking the entry. She claimed that when they allowed them in, she fell to the burning floor, which burnt her body, and that’s when everyone started running. After hours of standing in the heat in line, tens of thousands of fans were told that the event that night would not go on.

Julia Alvarenga, a fan, expressed her displeasure with Swift for delaying her cancellation. Social media users posted videos of pickpockets stripping fans of their goods. The performance on Saturday was moved to Monday, but the attendees who had come from outside Brazil and other parts of the nation made preparations to go earlier. Traveling from Panama, Hely Olivares, a 41-year-old Venezuelan, stated, “We’re not going to be able to make it.” “Many people have traveled in vain.”

About the Contributors

Amity Hoque, Editor-In-Chief

Hey Royals! My name’s Amity and I’m a senior. I very much look forward to being the Editor-in-Chief, writing for and leading the school newspaper. This is my second year of Journalism, and I’m excited to make this year in Journalism the best I can. I’m vice president of the IB program, which is very hard on me because it’s time-consuming and academically challenging, so Journalism provides an opportunity for a fun break. I’m an officer for many clubs and on the track team (I love to run). I’m captain of the Bollywood dance team and love to represent my culture. I’m both scared and excited for this year because of my workload and college applications, but I also look forward to my senior year. Although I’m not looking forward to senioritis, I hope to pull through and have fun during my last year at Quartz Hill. Some of my hobbies are listening to music, ballet, shopping, running, doing my makeup, and, obviously, watching Netflix. I look forward to all the new memories I’ll make this year!

Judy Lee, Staff Writer

Hello everyone! I’m Judy, a senior at Quartz Hill. I joined journalism during eleventh grade and decided to join again because I enjoyed it last year. I’ve been a part of the Quartz Hill Cheer team for four years. I am so excited and not so patiently waiting for all the events and games. One fact about me: I have played the violin for over eight years. I was the concertmaster of the West Coast Classical Orchestra last year. I am aiming for that position again this year when I audition soon. Playing as first chair last year was fantastic, so I hope to experience it again! The first few months of senior year will be busy because of college applications and other things, but I hope it’s fun and worthwhile. I’m glad to be returning to journalism and writing for The Ubiquity!