A police investigation has been launched in Rio de Janeiro, targeting Time4Fun, the Brazilian company responsible for organizing Taylor Swift's recent shows in the city.
The move comes in the wake of a tragic incident where a fan lost her life, and numerous attendees reported unbearable conditions during the Eras Tour, coinciding with an extreme heatwave. The Civil Police Department of Rio de Janeiro's consumer delegations department has launched an inquiry, focusing on the potential "endangerment of the life and health" of concertgoers.
A spokesperson for the Civil Police Department of Rio de Janeiro revealed that event organizers would be summoned to provide testimony, and further investigative steps are underway, per NBC News. Time4Fun, the company in question, has not yet responded to requests for comment. However, CEO Serafim Abreu expressed the company's apologies to those who had a less than satisfactory experience.
Abreu emphasized the immense responsibility of organizing such a large-scale event and stressed their commitment to employing the best global practices to ensure attendees' comfort and safety. He acknowledged that alternative measures could have been taken, particularly during the extreme heat, such as providing more shaded areas for fans.
Last week, Ana Clara Benevides Machado, 23, tragically lost her life during one of Swift's concerts. The event took place amid a record-breaking heatwave in Rio de Janeiro, with stadium temperatures soaring to a heat index of 138 degrees Fahrenheit. Swift postponed her subsequent Saturday night show due to the extreme conditions.
Concertgoers shared their harrowing experiences, describing oppressive heat within the stadium and limited access to water. Reports also emerged of fans fainting during the event.
Notably, the ongoing investigation is not directly linked to Machado's tragic death. Rio's Municipal Health Department disclosed that Machado fainted during the second song of Swift's performance and subsequently experienced cardiorespiratory arrest. The exact cause of her death remains undetermined.
Swift's devoted fans, known as Swifties, took to social media to express their grievances and demand better treatment from Time4Fun, using the hashtag "T4F EXIGIMOS RESPEITO" (T4F WE DEMAND RESPECT).
Numerous posts on social media platforms emphasized the necessity of ensuring access to water for ticket holders.
Swift herself expressed her grief over Machado's passing through an Instagram story following the concert. Meanwhile, Time4Fun responded on social media by allowing fans to bring water bottles and some sealed foods into the next two performances.
This policy extends to Swift's upcoming shows in São Paulo, where attendees will also be allowed to bring limited food and water into the venue.
As the investigation unfolds, Time4Fun faces scrutiny over the organization of Swift's Rio concert, which was marred by a fan's tragic death and numerous reports of inadequate conditions during a severe heatwave.
Fan outcry and the demands for respect and better safety measures have prompted responses from both the concert organizer and the global superstar herself.
The legal proceedings and ensuing actions will shed light on the responsibilities and potential liabilities in large-scale event management.
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