Taylor Swift: fan says ‘it’s ignorant’ to judge those who are camped in line

“I hate animals.” “I can’t take this place anymore!” said Taylor Swift fans camped out on the outskirts of Allianz Parque on Thursday afternoon (23), one day before the singer’s first show in São Paulo. Apart from the animals (cats, dogs, pigeons and insects) that irritated the swifties so much, until that time there had been no major nuisance or problem like those faced by fans in Rio — excessive heat or trawling, for example. The stadium gates will open at 4pm this Friday.

Nothing is as improvised as it seems in this tireless vigil. Student Ana Luisa, 18, guarantees that the scheme is well organized and that no one goes through (too much) trouble. Along with a group of 10 people formed through social media, she, who came from Campina Grande (PB) with her boyfriend, has spent a few hours a day guarding the place since Tuesday (21).

“The people who are taking turns with us at the camp are from here in São Paulo,” she says, adding that the length of time people take part in the relay varies a lot. “The people from the first tent, 30 people, have been here since June.”

Ana gets angry with anyone who judges or criticizes fans like her and her fellow members. “It’s ignorant, because everyone here is giving up something. I could be in my hotel, lying in the air conditioning, but I’m here, in this sun, to make my dream come true,” she says.

When she said she was going to camp outside the stadium, her family called her crazy. Especially after the heat tragedy in Rio de Janeiro, which caused the death of fan Ana Benevides, 23. But she guarantees that she takes care of herself and always reassures her parents, giving information about her diet and hydration during this period of waiting in the middle of the street.

The time for the queue to form, scheduled for midnight this Friday, is a moment of great tension among the campers. “A lot of people don’t respect order”, she complains, and guarantees: despite her anxiety, she will remain calm at this moment. “If you get desperate, you end up getting excited. If everyone respects you and is organized, it will be perfect. And the event also needs to be organized.” In Rio de Janeiro, fans fought for a place in line and the police had to intervene.

The good news came this Friday morning: “Everything was organized and calm. The organization distributed water to everyone”, Ana told F5, via WhatsApp.