The chief executive of the company organizing Taylor Swift‘s tour dates in Brazil issued an apology on Thursday after a fan lost their life during the pop sensation’s Rio de Janeiro performance amid a searing heat wave.
Organizers are facing criticism as fans voiced concerns about being restricted from entering the stadium with water bottles during the concert last Friday, despite a heat index soaring to 59 degrees Celsius (138 Fahrenheit) in the Brazilian beach city.
Tragically, a 23-year-old fan lost their life in the midst of the sold-out crowd of 60,000 people.
‘We recognize we could have taken alternative measures in addition to all those we implemented, such as providing shade in external areas, changing the time of the concerts and emphasizing that fans could enter the stadium with disposable water cups,” Serafim Abreu, head of Time For Fun, said in a video posted on social media.
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‘I want to apologize to all those who didn’t have the best possible experience,’ he added, sending his ‘most sincere condolences’ to the late fan’s family.
The company reported that the young woman, who fell ill, received prompt attention from emergency workers and was subsequently transferred to the hospital approximately an hour later.
According to O Globo, a preliminary autopsy disclosed that the young woman suffered a lung hemorrhage and three heart attacks.
In a statement on Saturday, Swift revealed her devastation over the death and announced the postponement of the concert initially slated for that night to Monday.
‘We know that climate change means these episodes will be more and more frequent,’ Abreu said.
‘The entire concert industry has to rethink how it operates in the face of this new reality.’
This week, Sao Paulo is in for a treat as Swift’s “Eras Tour” brings consecutive concerts on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.