Taylor Swift cancels performance at Australia’s Melbourne Cup under pressure from animal rights activists

"If Taylor Swift cares at all about other animals the way she appears to care about cats, she will cancel her show," the group said.

Taylor Swift has cancelled her planned performance at one of Australia’s leading horse racing events under pressure from animal rights activists.

The singer was set to to play two tracks from her new album ‘Lover’ at the Melbourne Cup on November 5.

“I can’t wait to come to Melbourne, and I can’t wait to come to the Melbourne Cup,” Swift said. “I’ve heard so much about the race.”

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However, the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses launched a campaign asking Swift to say #NupToTheCup.

“Taylor Swift has put money before compassion by agreeing to perform at the 2019 Melbourne Cup,” the group posted online.

Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift

“Horses are being killed for gambling profits and entertainment. If Taylor Swift cares at all about other animals the way she appears to care about cats, she will cancel her show and make a strong statement that animal abuse is unacceptable.”

Neil Wilson, the chief executive of the Victoria Racing Club, said of Swift’s performance: “To think you can come to Flemington and watch not only the race that stops a nation but see one of the world’s biggest – if not the biggest – entertainer perform for the cost of a general admission ticket is phenomenal.”

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The singer has now pulled out of the event, with the event organiser blaming “scheduling issues”.

Earlier this week, it was also reported that Swift tried to sue Microsoft over a chatbot which posted a string of racist messages online.

In a new biography by Brad Smith, he reveals that the singer’s lawyers challenged Microsoft in 2016. Swift was reportedly angered by Microsoft’s chatbot Tay, which was designed to interact with 18 to 24-year-olds, because it was similar to her own name.

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