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US singer Taylor Swift has pulled out of her performance at this year's Melbourne Cup.
Key points:
- A representative for Taylor Swift said she was expected back in Australia by 2020
- The pop singer had been slated to perform two songs at the race that stops the nation
- Victoria Racing Club's CEO said the news was "disappointing for everyone"
The Shake It Off singer cancelled the gig due to scheduling changes on the Asian leg of her promotional tour.
The country star had been slated to perform two songs in the Mounting Yard, meaning anyone with a general admission ticket would have been able to see her perform at the race that stops the nation on November 5.
It was to be her only public appearance in Australia this year, following the release of her seventh studio album, Lover. Swift had been set to perform two hits from the album at the Flemington Racecourse event.
"Regrettably, Taylor is no longer able to make it to this year's Melbourne Cup," Mushroom Events' Michael Gudinski said in a statement.
"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."
Fans who purchased tickets to the cup since Swift's performance was announced would be eligible for a refund, according to the Victoria Racing Club.
Victoria Racing Club CEO Neil Wilson said the news was "disappointing for everyone".
He added: "We understand how important the pre-Cup entertainment is and we look forward to providing an update shortly."
Last week, Swift said of her scheduled appearance she "can't wait to come to Melbourne, and I can't wait to come to the Melbourne Cup", the Herald Sun reported.
"I've heard so much about the race."
Swift had faced backlash online
When news of the star's performance was announced it sparked an immediate response from the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses, which protests outside the Melbourne Cup each year.
The animal rights group renewed its online #NupToTheCup campaign, calling on Swift to pull out of the performance.
"Taylor Swift has put money before compassion by agreeing to perform at the 2019 Melbourne Cup," the group said on its Facebook page.
Some of Swift's fans also expressed disappointment at the singer's decision to perform at the race.
Twitter user Yvette Lewis said as much as she loved Swift, she was "disappointed" the star was supporting a "cruel industry".
Last year, Irish horse The Cliffsofmoher was euthanased after breaking its shoulder during the Melbourne Cup, in what Racing Victoria called "an unfortunate incident that happens infrequently".
ABC/AAP
Topics: horse-racing, sport, pop, music, arts-and-entertainment, australia, vic, melbourne-3000, flemington-3031
First posted