RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL: Brazil welcomed the pop star Taylor Swift uniquely and specially. Rio De Janeiro honored the singer by projecting a 'Welcome to Brasil' shirt inspired by Taylor Swift's 'Junior Jewels' shirt from her 'You Belong With Me' music video on the iconic Christ the Redeemer.
The Brazil Swifties were flooding the social media accounts of Padre Omar Raposo, rector of the sanctuary of Christ the Redeemer after Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes supported their request.
On November 16, the official Instagram account of Christ the Redeemer shared a video of the projection saying, "We did it, Swifties !! Y'all could show Taylor and next all the love! Many thanks to all who donated! Make it a wonderful day!"
Brazil is Swift's second stop in the international leg of her record-breaking Eras Tour. She has three shows from November 17 to 19 in Rio De Janeiro's Estádio Nilton Santos and three shows from November 24 to 26 in São Paulo.
Omar Raposo requested a charity donation from Swifties
Raposo released a video saying he would agree to the Swiftie's demand only if they donated "more than 20,000 units of panettone and mineral water by 9pm this Thursday, November 16, to help people in situations of vulnerability and social exclusion." And they did it.
According to USA Today, Leonardo Ulths De Carvalho, a 21-year-old publicist, created the original photoshopped image, while Gabriel Dadam, an art director of one of Swift's fan clubs, made the projection.
Not everybody is happy with the projection on the Christ statue
Apart from being a cultural icon of Rio De Janeiro Christ, the Redeemer statue symbolizes Christianity as it was built to express the divinity of Jesus Christ. Therefore, some people are furious over the projection welcoming Swift to Brazil.
Social media reactions suggest that many find it a disrespect to the monument, some even saying it was 'blasphemy.'
One user said, "This is insane. they shouldn't have done that."
Another user said, "So disrespectful."
"Why did they use Christ as advertising space?" asked a third user.
"Ain't this blasphemy," asked a user. While a fifth user asked, "No cap, isn't this low-key blasphemous?"
Another one stated, "I'm totally against it."
Swifties defended the projection with an explanation
Brazil Swifties went crazy as the authorities finally granted their wish. They hardly care about the negative reactions.
A hardcore Swiftie gave a clear-cut explanation against the question of disrespect.
An X user from Brazil, @ursogorrrgeous, who calls herself a Swiftie, wrote defending the event. "In brazil, it's a recurrent event to use projections. it can notably witnessed during significant soccer events (which are very important) wherein christ the redeemer statue adorns a jersey. brands use it. notable figures use is as well." She also shared images of the statue adorned with various projections in the past.
"Very noteworthy that the orchestration of these projections is entrusted to a clergyman and the effort is reverted exclusively towards philanthropic and charity causes," she added. The user also asked people to do proper research before calling it disrespectful.
She also said, "We're paying an homage to taylor for finally coming here after a decade. the effort is now being redirected towards providing assistance to those in need."
Many supported this view. One user said, "It isn't blasphemy, because the statue has been used this way for years, the PRIEST who is in charge of the projection himself gave the authorization."
Another user said, "They do this for football teams so no, it isn't disrespectful just because is for taylor."
One user commented on @ursogorrrgeous post supporting her, "Hi sweetie! Swiftie from Argentina here. You know your culture and if you're being respectful or not, not any other country business. You have to welcome her in the Brazilian way, which is awesome. Enjoy, other countries' haters gonna hate."
