Taylor Swift praised for cancelling Melbourne Cup appearance

Taylor Swift has been praised for cancelling her scheduled appearance at the Melbourne Cup after an outcry from her fans.

The 29-year-old singer was due to perform at the horse racing event on November 5, but it was announced over the weekend that she would no longer take to the stage, citing touring conflicts as the reason for her cancellation.

"Regrettably, Taylor is no longer able to make it to this year's Melbourne Cup. Changes to her Asian promo schedule have made it logistically impossible for her to be here,” music booking agency Mushroom Events said.

Prior to her cancellation, animal rights groups had accused her of "endorsing animal abuse" as six horses have died at the Cup since 2013, and now that she will no longer perform, PETA have applauded her decision.

"Taylor Swift dumped the Melbourne Cup and PETA couldn't be happier. The event is riddled with horse breakdowns and death and is linked to the bloody horse-slaughter industry, which PETA most recently exposed in South Korea,” Emily Rice from the organisation said in a public statement.

"None of this cruelty is consistent with the kind person we know Taylor to be. PETA - whose motto reads, in part, that 'animals are not ours to use for entertainment' - opposes speciesism, which is a human-supremacist worldview."

Many fans also commended the popstar for cancelling the Melbourne Cup gig, but others were disappointed they wouldn’t get a chance to see their idol in real life.

“Wow safe to say I’m extremely disappointed @taylorswift13 cancelled her Melbourne Cup appearance. I was so looking forward to seeing her,” one person wrote.

Just two weeks ago, it was announced that Taylor would perform two songs off her new album Lover, ahead of the race that stops a nation, but the Shake it Off star’s decision stopped a number of fans in their tracks.

The singer told promoter Michael Gudinski she couldn't wait to perform at the event, and that she had ‘heard so much about it’ - but it seems she may not have heard of the controversy that has surrounded the race in recent years.

Melbourne Cup has become notorious among animal rights activists, after the spate of horse deaths at the event in recent years.

Last year, Irish horse The Cliffsofmoher was put down after falling early on in the race, sparking ongoing protests, while the previous year, horse Regal Monarch was euthanised after a fall on Melbourne Cup day, following the deaths of Red Cadeaux in 2015, Admire Rakti and Araldo in 2014, and Verema in 2013 after they each sustained injuries on the race day.

In the wake of The Cliffsofmoher’s death, Racing Victoria said, “This was an unfortunate incident that happens infrequently, with Victoria having one of the best safety records in world racing”.Got a story tip or just want to get in touch? Email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com

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