'Total Frenzy': Swift Fever Grows in Latin America

Taylor Swift performs during her Eras tour at Sofi stadium in Inglewood, California. Michael Tran / AFP/File
Taylor Swift performs during her Eras tour at Sofi stadium in Inglewood, California. Michael Tran / AFP/File
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'Total Frenzy': Swift Fever Grows in Latin America

Taylor Swift performs during her Eras tour at Sofi stadium in Inglewood, California. Michael Tran / AFP/File
Taylor Swift performs during her Eras tour at Sofi stadium in Inglewood, California. Michael Tran / AFP/File

Excitement is building among Taylor Swift fans in Latin America who have endured months-long queues, expensive tickets and, in one case, assault to realize their dream of seeing the pop superstar.

The 33-year-old singer-songwriter, who holds the women's record for most number one albums, will bring her "Eras" tour to the region from Thursday starting in Mexico, followed by Argentina and Brazil, said AFP.

In Rio de Janeiro, Renan Rodrigues camped out for several nights to buy tickets for Swift's November 17-19 concerts at the Nilton Santos stadium.

The 24-year-old DJ, who performs at parties for Swifties, as the pop star's devoted fans are known, got tickets to all three performances.

But he paid a high price -- an assailant hit him on the head with a bottle for resisting an attempted robbery while he was waiting.

"They wanted to take my cell phone, and inside the case was my card from the only bank authorized for ticket sales. I just thought: they won't take my card," said Rodrigues, who suffered superficial injuries.

Tickets for Taylor Swift shows in Brazil cost between $35 and $468.

In Mexico, where young people earn an average salary of $366 a month according to official data, fans had to pay between $55 and $614.

Ingrid Cruz, founder of the official Mexican fan club, described the high cost as "abuse" and complained that VIP packages were prioritized over regular tickets.

Fans also reported problems with the platform of US retail giant Ticketmaster.

The vendor operates in Mexico as part of the powerful CIE entertainment and media group, which in turn controls around two-thirds of the local market for live shows.

Pre-sales for the four concerts in Mexico City were based on a previous registration of "verified fans" by email.

But even Joel Aguilar, creator of Taylor Swift MX, a fan site with some 20,000 followers from 20 countries, failed to qualify, he said.

Denisse Castro, 26, who has been unemployed for six months, hoped that building a credit history and obtaining a card from the bank sponsoring the concert would help her to secure good seats.

Unfortunately for her, the bank recently tightened its credit restrictions, so Castro could only afford the cheapest tickets.

In the Argentine capital Buenos Aires, a group set up camp outside the River stadium in June, five months before the concert, to ensure they have places near the stage.

"It's going to be a total frenzy," said Lara Palavencino, one of the fans, who take it in turns to reserve their spots.

Tickets sold out quickly in Argentina, despite the country's serious economic crisis.

In Chile, President Gabriel Boric, a self-proclaimed Swiftie, made an unsuccessful appeal to Swift to include his country on her tour.

And in Mexico, proving that the pop star's popularity transcends age, a 64-year-old Supreme Court judge outed himself as a Swiftie earlier this year.

"There's nothing trivial about Taylor Swift," Arturo Zaldivar wrote in a newspaper in June.



Rapper Kendrick Lamar Lands the Biggest Wins at the 2025 BET Awards 

Kendrick Lamar accepts the Album of the Year award for "GNX" at the 25th annual BET (Black Entertainment Television) Awards, in Los Angeles, California, US, June 9, 2025. (Reuters)
Kendrick Lamar accepts the Album of the Year award for "GNX" at the 25th annual BET (Black Entertainment Television) Awards, in Los Angeles, California, US, June 9, 2025. (Reuters)
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Rapper Kendrick Lamar Lands the Biggest Wins at the 2025 BET Awards 

Kendrick Lamar accepts the Album of the Year award for "GNX" at the 25th annual BET (Black Entertainment Television) Awards, in Los Angeles, California, US, June 9, 2025. (Reuters)
Kendrick Lamar accepts the Album of the Year award for "GNX" at the 25th annual BET (Black Entertainment Television) Awards, in Los Angeles, California, US, June 9, 2025. (Reuters)

Kendrick Lamar was the top winner on Monday at the BET Awards, an awards ceremony honoring Black actors, singers and sports stars.

The "30 For 30" rapper won the best male hip hop artist award, best album of the year as well as the video of the year award for "Not Like Us."

Lamar and filmmaker Dave Free also took home the video director of the year award at the event, which was held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and broadcast on the BET cable channel.

"BET has always made sure they're representing the culture right and always put me in the midst of the cycle of what we represent," Lamar said on stage when accepting his award.

Host comedian Kevin Hart opened the ceremony by recognizing the BET Awards' 25th anniversary and all of the "history that has been made" on the stage.

The ceremony traversed the evolution of Black music, starting with a performance by R&B artist Ashanti that featured a compilation of songs, including her 2002 song "Foolish."

Additional performances included other 2000s songs "Ballin'" by Mustard, "1 Thing" by Amerie and "Like You" by Bow Wow.

Hart led with jokes while also highlighting the BET Ultimate Icon Award winners of the night, including Kirk Franklin, Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx and Snoop Dogg.

The special award was given to those that have paid homage to music, entertainment, advocacy and community impact.

Presented by Stevie Wonder, Foxx accepted his award and reflected on his recovery journey after having a stroke in 2023.

"I gotta be honest, when I saw the in memoriam, I was like, 'Man, that could have been me'," he said.

Another honor included the best female hip hop artist award for rising rapper Doechii.