In May, Lady Gaga graced Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Beach with a highly publicized concert, under city sponsorship aimed at boosting the local economy. Promoted as an attendance milestone, it was claimed that 2.1 million fans gathered to witness the performance, with hopes of generating over $100 million for the local economy. City officials touted this impressive figure as a major success for both the concert and their revitalization efforts.
However, skepticism arose when a reader inquired about the feasibility of accommodating such a massive crowd in the designated area. BBC Verify took it upon themselves to analyze the claims, turning to crowd density experts for insights. The findings revealed that fitting 2.1 million people comfortably would require utilizing the entire length of Copacabana Beach, rather than just a segment.
This raises serious doubts about the official attendance numbers. City officials have remained adamant in their assertion of the 2.1 million figure but have yet to clarify the methods used to derive such data or address the discrepancies highlighted by the BBC's investigation.
As the debate continues, the allure of memorable live performances remains, although the question of accuracy in attendance figures persists in the realm of concert narratives. Watch for further developments as the situation unfolds.
