In an extraordinary display of welcome, Rio de Janeiro’s famous Christ the Redeemer statue shone brightly with an image inspired by Taylor Swift’s T-shirt as the pop sensation launched her Eras Tour in Brazil.
This remarkable sight was orchestrated by Swift’s dedicated fans, who, with the backing of Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes, persuaded the Christ the Redeemer Archdiocesan Sanctuary to project the image onto the statue.
The endeavor was not just a spectacle but a charitable act, with fans raising funds to provide food and drinks for Rio’s homeless, aligning with the Catholic Church’s World Day of the Poor.
Mayor Paes, referring to Swift as the “Madonna of our times,” encouraged fans to direct their requests to the sanctuary’s rector, Rev. Omar Raposo. In exchange for the projection, Rev. Raposo challenged Swifties to raise funds for the charitable cause. In a remarkable show of solidarity, fans successfully gathered about NZD$61,000 in a day, covering the cost of 20,000 loaves of panettones and bottled water.
The statue, standing for nearly a century, is a global symbol of Christianity and warmly welcomes millions of tourists yearly. The projection on Christ the Redeemer added to a global trend of cities extending a special welcome to Swift during her Eras Tour, from granting honorary mayor status to renaming stadiums. Swift’s Brazil tour comprises six shows, with the initial three at Rio’s Estádio Nilton Santos and the remaining in São Paulo at Allianz Parque stadium.
