While Victoria Racing Club CEO Neil Wilson expresses disappointment over the matter, Australia's Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses director suggests that the 'ME!' singer is an animal lover.
- September 23, 2019
AceShowbiz - Taylor Swift has pulled out of performing at Australia's Melbourne Cup horse race due to "scheduling conflicts", amid criticism from animal rights activists.
The "Bad Blood" hitmaker was due to play two tracks from her new album "Lover" at the event at Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse on November 5, but organisers announced on Friday, September 20 she would no longer be performing due to a "change in schedule."
"Regrettably, Taylor is no longer able to make it to this year's Melbourne Cup," promoter Mushroom Group's chief Michael Gudinski said in a statement to the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper.
"Changes to her Asian promo schedule have made it logistically impossible for her to be here. To all of Taylor's fans, we hope to see Taylor in Australia in 2020."
Victoria Racing Club chief executive officer Neil Wilson added, "Obviously, this is disappointing for everyone. We understand how important the pre-Cup entertainment is and we look forward to providing an update shortly."
The star's booking sparked anger from animal rights campaigners, as six horses have died participating in the racing event since 2013.
Activists from Australia's Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses had run a social media campaign to ask Swift to pull out, and director Elio Celotto welcomed the cancellation, speculating, "We think she's probably also an animal lover herself and did not want to be part of something that is fundamentally a cruel sport."
