Prompted by reader inquiries regarding the reported attendance of 2.1 million people at Lady Gaga’s recent performance on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, BBC Verify conducted an investigation.
The concert, financed by the city of Rio de Janeiro, was intended to stimulate the local economy.
Reports indicated that fans traveled from across Brazil to attend the spectacle, which was projected to inject over $100 million (£75 million) into the regional economy.
City officials publicly lauded the claimed attendance of 2.1 million as a resounding success.
However, thorough analysis by the BBC Verify team, in conjunction with a crowd density expert, suggests that these figures are highly questionable.
Their assessment indicates that accommodating over two million people comfortably would necessitate utilizing the entire length of the beach, rather than a designated section.
Despite the BBC’s findings, city officials have stood by their initial claims, without providing a detailed explanation of their measurement methodology.
Watch the full analysis above.
Produced by Kevin Nguyen, edited by Mohamed Shalaby, graphics by Mesut Ersoz.
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The concert on Copacabana beach was paid for by Rio de Janeiro city to help boost the economy.