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Nine-year-old Scarlett Oliver’s wish came true at Taylor Swift’s first Sydney show on Friday night, when she was given Swift’s black hat during her song 22.
Oliver, who has stage four brain cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy, was ushered to the front of Swift’s stage about midway through the show at Accor Stadium. Swift sang and danced her way towards Scarlett and then crouched down to place the hat on the young girl’s head, telling her: “Thank you so much for coming. I love you so much” and giving her a tight hug.
Taylor Swift givers her 22 hat to Scarlett Oliver at Accor Stadium on Friday night. The nine-year-old has been undergoing chemotherapy for a brain tumour. Credit: Photo by Don Arnold/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
Scarlett’s step-mum Natalie Oliver posted the moment on Instagram, writing to Swift: “You are AMAZING!! Thank you so much for making Scarlett’s dream come true!! To everyone who shared her story to help us make this happen we are beyond greatful [sic]!!! Scarlett is on top of the world right now!”
According to a Go Fund Me page organised by Scarlett’s aunty Racheal Oliver, Scarlett is suffering from a grade four glioma, “a highly aggressive, malignant brain tumour, which has an average prognosis of 12-18 months”.
Scarlett’s wish to meet Swift came true through some canny social media posting by Natalie, who shared Scarlett’s wish on Facebook and Instagram in the hope the little girl’s story would be spotted by Swift’s team.
The family had flown from Perth to see the first night of Swift’s four-concert run in Sydney. Scarlett had earlier asked to meet Swift through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, but was told it wouldn’t be possible.
Once Scarlett and her family arrived in Sydney, that’s when the Swift fan army swept into action, reposting Natalie’s photo of Scarlett holding a hand-made sign that read, “Taylor can I have the 22 hat please”. Natalie then posted Scarlett’s seat details on social media.
Swift gives the hat to one lucky fan each night, with recipients only finding out if they have been chosen during the show, when they are approached by Swift’s security team. Fans have long theorised the hows and whys of who gets picked, speculating that the lucky person is chosen by Swift’s mum, Andrea.
The Oliver family have yet to speak publicly about Scarlett being plucked from the sold-out crowd of more than 80,000, which included Swift’s Super Bowl-winning boyfriend Travis Kelce, as well as Baz Luhrmann, Toni Collette, Taika Waititi, Rita Ora and Katy Perry all standing together in the VIP tent on the stadium floor.
Swift ends her Australian tour on Monday, after performing seven sold-out shows in Sydney and Melbourne.