Taylor Swift’s 9-Year-Old Fan, Gifted with ‘22’ Hat, Dies Of Cancer

A young Taylor Swift fan named Scarlett Oliver, who was only nine years old and battling cancer, attended the Era's tour in February. Sadly, Scarlett passed away from cancer, sparking an outpouring of condolences from Swift's fans. Scarlett had the chance to meet Taylor Swift during her tour in Sydney and even received a special '22' hat from her as a gift. Swifties, as Taylor Swift's fans are known, have been expressing their sorrow and paying tribute to Scarlett on social media since her passing on Saturday, April 27th.

Who Was Scarlett Oliver?

Scarlett Oliver first went viral when her stepmother Natalie posted a story on her social media stating that  Scarlett had been diagnosed with aggressive brain cancer, known as high-grade glioma, which had a low survival rate. She also mentioned Scarlett's dream of meeting Taylor Swift, asking her followers for help in making it happen. Despite approaching the Make-A-Wish Foundation, their request was unfortunately declined. Feeling desperate, Natalie turned to social media to fulfill her child's wish.

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A post shared by Natalie Oliver (@natoliver22)

Her story quickly gained widespread attention. They shared a post featuring Scarlett holding a sign that read, "Taylor, may I please have the '22' hat?" This hat was famously worn by Taylor Swift at the start of her RED album tour.

During Scarlett's visit to the  Era's tour in Sydney, she had the chance to meet Swift onstage, where she received the coveted '22' hat. Natalie expressed her joy on Instagram, saying, "You are AMAZING! Thank you so much for making Scarlett's dream come true!"

However, Scarlett's health began to decline rapidly, leaving her confined to bed and battling nausea. Scarlett's father shared on Instagram that his daughter's condition was worsening, and she was now "only a few weeks away from death" rather than the expected few months. On April 27, he sadly announced on social media that Scarlett had passed away due to complications from her illness. Alongside a picture of his daughter, he wrote, "Nothing will ever be the same again." The Swifties swiftly turned to social media to honor the young fan, who was just a few months shy of her 10th birthday.

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A post shared by Natalie Oliver (@natoliver22)

Fans commented, consoling Scarlett's mourning family, and paid their respects from all over the world. "She will always be with you, like a blanket of love." one fan wrote. Others quoted Winnie the Pooh and Henry Scott Holand to offer support to the family.