I get it—if you’re a fan of a band, movie star, or a notable figure like President Trump, camping out to catch a glimpse or get that front-row experience can be part of the thrill. It’s a common scene, nobody bats an eye. But there’s a line between fandom and fanaticism that can be crossed, and it seems a group of Taylor Swift’s most dedicated fans have vaulted over that line like Kentucky show horses.
These die-hard “Swifties” took their adoration to the extreme, queuing up for an unbelievable five months just to see their beloved pop icon in person. Five months! That’s a level of commitment that’s hard to fathom. Call me practical, but isn’t that a little over the top?
Taylor Swift‘s Eras Tour dominated the U.S. in the spring and summer, and the movie version became the highest-grossing concert film of all time this fall with over $200 million at the worldwide box office. Now the tour is getting ready to kick back off in real life as Swift performs three concerts in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Nov. 9, 10 and 11. Some diehard Swift fans with general admission tickets have taken their love for the Grammy winner to a whole new level by camping out in tents near the Estadio River Plate stadium in hopes of securing spots as close to the stage as possible (via Pitchfork). The camping started in June.
“We’ve been in this tent for five months,” a 21-year-old Swiftie told Pitchfork on the condition of anonymity so that her father doesn’t find out. “I usually tell my dad I’m at a park drinking mate with somebody, or visiting a friend of mine who lives near the stadium.”
According to Pitchfork, fans have been “occupying four tents outside the stadium, taking turns in carefully planned rotations. … An internal spreadsheet, created by two organizers and updated by assigned administrators, keeps track of around 60 folks per tent. Most of them are young women, but no one under 18 is allowed. Based on a ranking system gathering everybody’s total time, the longer you’ve been in a tent, the higher the chances of being one of the first in line.”
“The fact that there are so many people makes things easier,” a 20-year-old named Irina told Pitchfork, adding that her mother is comfortable with her camping out as long as she doesn’t get bad grades in college. “We all have different schedules, and you fit yours amongst them.”
Per the publication: “Sleepovers are now mandatory at least once a month, alongside a minimum of 60 monthly hours, to maintain one’s spot.”
“People are very upset with us camping for some reason,” a fan named Carmen said. “Sometimes you’re lying down, and you hear someone scream ‘Go to work!’ at 2 a.m. It’s like, ‘You’re the one who’s outside of a tent shouting at 2 in the morning — aren’t you supposed to work tomorrow? Does it really affect you that much? I’m the one who’s sleeping on the street, not you.”
Honestly, the world could sure use a dose of Godly divinity right about now. Too often, society elevates singers, actors, and athletes to religious status, as if they’re more than mere mortals. But five months? Waiting in line for five months to see any celebrity seems downright insane. Is there anyone out there actually worth that kind of wait? If you’ve got a name in mind, we’re all ears.
