SAO PAULO (AP) — Renowned singer and poet Patti Smith has put her fans at ease, stating she is “fine” after collapsing during a performance in Brazil. Following the incident, she returned to the audience to apologize for concluding her show prematurely.
Footage shared on social media depicted the 78-year-old lying on the stage at a São Paulo venue on Wednesday night.
“I’m fine. You can hear I’m fine,” she assured The Associated Press via phone on Thursday morning. “The entire situation has been greatly exaggerated.” She elaborated that her Instagram post, which mentioned experiencing dizziness post-migraine, “speaks for itself.”
“I was examined by an excellent doctor and was perfectly fine. Please disregard any misinformation. In light of the world’s challenges, this understandable incident does not deserve excessive scrutiny,” she wrote.
The Cultura Artística Theater confirmed that Thursday’s evening performance would proceed as planned. Smith is in Sao Paulo for a two-day engagement involving the “Correspondences” project with the Berlin-based Soundwalk Collective, during which she has been reciting her writings accompanied by musicians.
The Soundwalk Collective reported that Smith had been grappling with a severe migraine, expressing her desire to perform for her audience nonetheless. They shared a joint statement on their Instagram.
Approximately 30 minutes into the event, while reading a piece on climate change, Smith collapsed. A journalist in the front row described the scene as “bizarre,” noting that after a doctor from the audience attended to her, she managed to stand up unaided.
Though she was later taken backstage in a wheelchair, Smith returned to address the crowd. “Unfortunately, I got sick, and the doctor advised me not to continue,” she explained regretfully, to which the audience responded, “Don’t be! We love you!” She then delivered an impromptu a cappella rendition of “Wing” and “Because the Night.”
“It was incredibly moving because she was visibly upset about not being able to complete the show,” noted Alves.
— Italie reported from New York.
Vocabulary List:
- Renowned /rɪˈnaʊnd/ (adjective): Known or talked about by many people; famous.
- Collapse /kəˈlæps/ (verb): To fall down or become unconscious suddenly.
- Exaggerated /ɪɡˈzædʒ.ə.reɪ.tɪd/ (adjective): Represented as larger greater or worse than in reality.
- Misinformation /ˌmɪs.ɪn.fəˈmeɪ.ʃən/ (noun): False or inaccurate information.
- Performance /pərˈfɔːr.məns/ (noun): An act of staging or presenting a play concert or other form of entertainment.
- Engagement /ɪnˈɡeɪdʒ.mənt/ (noun): An arrangement to do something at a fixed time.
