Animal activists have called on singer Taylor Swift to cancel her performance at the Melbourne Cup after she announced she would be playing songs from her new LP Lover at this year’s event.
“I can’t wait to come to Melbourne, and I can’t wait to come to the Melbourne Cup”, Swift told the Herald Sun. “I’ve heard so much about the race”.
However, not everyone is as excited as the international pop star about the news. The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses has decided to start a campaign on social media under the #NupToTheCup hashtag to ask Swift to cancel the performance, which is due to take place on November 5.
The group has accused Swift to “put money before compassion by agreeing to perform at the 2019 Melbourne Cup” through an online post.
“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,” they added.
According to The Guardian, Victoria Racing Club’s executive chief Neil Wilson has expressed the club excitement about Swift’s performance at the event.
“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”, he said.
Swift is yet to respond to the request. However, Lover is Australia’s 2019 best-selling album and the performance is supposed to be her only public appearance while in the country.
#Peace.Love.TaylorSwift
