A man has reportedly died while working on the stage being built for Shakira’s upcoming concert in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The Colombian star is due to play a free show for fans on Saturday (May 2), with crowds said to potentially reach as many as 1,000,000 people.
Shakira, 49, has been counting down to the performance online. Posting photos on Instagram yesterday while holding a green-and-yellow “Loba Cabana” fan, she wrote: “Almost there, Rio!!! Prepping so many surprises for you: guest artists, new wardrobe, songs you’ll love to hear… Can’t wait to be there.”
However, reports have since emerged claiming a local technician died after an incident while preparations were underway for the weekend event.
According to Metro Online, the man sustained serious leg injuries involving a lifting system. He was taken to hospital for treatment but later died.
Bonus Track, the concert’s organizer, confirmed the death in a statement: “Unfortunately, the technician passed away in hospital.”
Witness Antonio Marcos Ferreira dos Santos said he was on the beach when the incident happened.
He told The Sun: “Out of nowhere, we saw people running, and when we looked, the structure was on the ground,”
Antonio added: “People were saying that a man had gotten trapped underneath. People rushed over to pull him out,”
The news comes after Shakira faced health problems last year and cancelled a show in Peru after being taken to the emergency room.
In a statement shared at the time, the ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ singer said: “I am sorry to inform you all that last night I had to go to the emergency room for an abdominal issue and am currently hospitalized.
“The doctors whose care I am currently under have communicated that I am not in good enough condition to perform this evening.
“I am very sad that I will not be able to take the stage today. I’ve been looking forward to reuniting with my incredible fans here in Peru.”
The Peru cancellation happened near the start of her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour, which translates to Women No Longer Cry.
Across its first 86 dates, the tour reportedly generated more than $421.6 million, making it the highest-grossing Latin tour to date.
The run is currently set to wrap up in Madrid, Spain, in October 2026. Shakira has also said she’ll have a dedicated stadium built for the final show, named Estadio Shakira.
Speaking previously about the planned venue, she teased: “It’s going to be something out of this world, a production that I don’t think has been seen before in Spain,”