Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift is in Los Angeles for a whopping six shows to close out the 2023 U.S. leg of “The Eras Tour.” The lengthy three hour 10-album strong show includes surprises for concertgoers every night. From rotating opening acts to varying costume changes and two acoustic surprise songs, no fan attends the same show twice.
One such tradition is Swift handing off her black hat from the “22” performance to a lucky audience member. The outfit Swift wears during this section of the show is a replica from the original 2012 music video. Last night, in a heartfelt exchange, the singer handed the hat to the late Kobe Bryant‘s daughter, Bianka Bryant.
The Los Angeles Lakers legend passed away in 2020 in a tragic helicopter accident alongside daughter Gianna Marie Bryant. In 2015, when Swift played the Staples Center for her “1989” tour, Bryant presented her with a championship banner for a record breaking number of sold out shows.
The NBA star’s widow Vanessa Bryant hand-crafted a denim jacket with a photo of her late husband and Swift on the back in his honor, and thanked Swift for handing the hat off to one of her daughters.
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Social Media Reactions
Los Angeles locals were touched by the gesture towards one of professional sports’ royal families. Vanessa Bryant notably continues her advocacy work in her late husband’s honor, assisting with developing sports programs for children in underserved communities. Lakers fans are rapidly becoming newfound Swifties after the onstage act of kindness.
Suddenly I’m a Swiftie??
— BoredApe6328.eth ???? (@DaybedNFT) August 4, 2023
The singer continues to receive praise for the hat hand off.
Aww this is so cute and so sweet
— steven ❀ (@arianaunext) August 4, 2023
Beautiful to see, the world is good
— Josh ???? (@JoshiedNFT) August 4, 2023
Elsewhere, fans of both Bryant and Swift continue to share images and videos from the night the NBA star met the acclaimed singer onstage.
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— z (@bazIenka) August 4, 2023
The gesture comes after Swift recently paid approximately five million dollars in bonuses to her truckers and various crew position workers on “The Eras Tour.” The singer’s father, Scott Swift, reportedly handed out the bonus checks as the entourage prepared to leave Santa Clara for Los Angeles. The city is the last U.S. stop on the tour until 2024.
The singer will head to Mexico next, and make her way through South America before heading to Asia and Australia. Swift recently announced a second U.S. tour leg with several shows in North America.
Turns out it’s NOT the end of an era ???? Miami, New Orleans, Indy and Toronto: The Eras Tour is coming to you in 2024 with @gracieabrams! Verified fan registration for all shows is open now – visit https://t.co/xw6YMN3GMc for more information pic.twitter.com/DCgFQb2U22
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) August 3, 2023
Swift is rumored to be working on her next re-recorded album, with fans theorizing that it will either be “Reputation” or “1989.” “Delicate” from “Reputation” was featured in the newly released episode of Amazon Prime Video’s “The Summer I Turned Pretty.”
