Taylor Swift Confirmed For Melb Cup; Anti-racing Group Call For Singer To Cancel

UPDATE: People are taking to social media to protest Taylor Swift’s scheduled performance at this year’s Melbourne Cup.

Tagging the singer and using the #NupToTheCup hashtag, users are urging the US artist to reconsider performing at the event, with the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses leading the protest.

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

“With such huge success already, she could easily afford to not only say NO, but use the opportunity to help the horses by speaking up against horse cruelty in the racing industry.”

Journalist and Swift fan, Dejan Jotanovic also implored the singer to cancel via an op-ed published by The Guardian: "If you’re wanting to position yourself as an overtly political artist – one who wears a firm set of beliefs and, more than this, marches them into action – then you must reconsider your decision to perform at the 2019 Melbourne Cup."

@taylorswift13 Performing at the Melbourne Cup shows that you support animal cruelty! I thought you were better than this!! I won’t be supporting you ever again! #NupToTheCup #TaylorSwift

— Josh (@joshyc95) September 12, 2019

@taylorswift13 say #NuptotheCup
Don't support the Melbourne Cup & and industry which leads to the death & cruelty of so many animals.

— Tyrone Dlisle (@TDlisle) September 12, 2019

@Taylorswift13 please taylor do not attend the melbourne cup horse race event. Horse racing kills. Please say #nuptothecup.

— Terri Beech (@tezzle18) September 12, 2019

@taylorswift13 please say #NupToTheCup Many horses have died at the Melbourne Cup and many more are exploited and being killed for gambling profits & entertainment. Come to Melbourne but not for that!

— ericukd (@ericdelaney) September 12, 2019

Hey @taylorswift13, please reconsider your choice to perform at the Melbourne Cup. You’re better than that mate.#nuptothecup

— Jessica Ivers (@jivebong) September 12, 2019

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It's official - Taylor Swift will head to Australia this November to headline the Melbourne Cup carnival entertainment. 

It comes after reports last month that industry legend Michael Gudinski was in negotiations with the US popstar, with a Mushroom spokesperson telling The Music at the time, "Michael is in ongoing conversations with a number of artists presently. At this point no one has been confirmed".

The Melbourne Cup performance, at Flemington Racecourse on 5 November, will be Swift's only Australian appearance since the release of her critically-acclaimed #1 album, Lover, which has racked up over one billion streams in Australia alone. 

It has been confirmed that the Pennsylvania-born songwriter will perform two tracks from the record before "the race that stops a nation". 

“Lexus Melbourne Cup Day is the most celebrated day on Australia’s major event calendar and with a reach of 1 billion people globally, it’s only fitting the VRC welcomes the world’s most celebrated star for the event,” Victoria Racing Club Chief Executive Officer Neil Wilson said.

“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. We look forward to welcoming Taylor Swift to our wonderful event in just under 54 days.”