In an unexpected twist during his Thanksgiving turkey pardoning speech, President Joe Biden found himself caught in the pop culture crossfire as he confused two iconic blonde pop stars, Britney Spears and Taylor Swift. The incident occurred on Monday, 20th November, coincidentally marking the President’s 81st birthday.
As Biden discussed the journey of the pardoned turkeys, Liberty and Bell, who had travelled over a thousand miles, he injected a touch of humour into his speech. Drawing parallels between the turkeys’ arduous trek and the challenges faced by fans trying to secure tickets to Beyoncé’s latest tour, Biden quipped, “You could say it’s harder than getting a ticket to the Renaissance tour or…,” at which point, he seemingly struggled to recall Taylor Swift’s name.
Image Courtesy: Billboard
“Or Britney’s tour,” Biden interjected, mistakenly attributing Swift’s recent tour in Brazil to Britney Spears. “She’s down in—it’s kind of warm in Brazil right now.” Meanwhile, Taylor Swift had been grappling with a different kind of heat during her performances at Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos in Rio de Janeiro.
Swift’s Brazil tour faced complications due to a record-breaking heatwave, with temperatures reaching 102.4 degrees Fahrenheit in the city. Concert-goers lamented the prohibition of water bottles inside the stadium, exacerbating the challenges posed by the extreme conditions. The situation reached a tragic climax as a fan collapsed and passed away from the intense heat before the first show in Rio.
Image Courtesy: Rolling Stone
Expressing her devastation on Instagram, Swift conveyed her heartfelt condolences to the fan’s family and friends. Swift’s concern for the well-being of her fans led her to postpone the second night of her Eras Tour concert in Rio, with the rescheduled event details shared through taylorswifttheerastour.com.
There were several alterations made to Swift’s performances in Rio, citing the omission of pyrotechnic effects due to the challenging weather conditions.
-Britney Jones