When news broke that international pop sensation Taylor Swift was going to perform at this year's Melbourne Cup, there was mixed reaction.
Some couldn't book tickets quick enough to see the 'Lover' singer do two songs from her latest album while watching horses race by, while others thought it was the wrong place for Swift to be.
However, the American pop princess has copped a battering from animal welfare activists because they disagree with the sport of horse racing.
Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses wrote on Facebook: "Taylor Swift has put money before compassion by agreeing to perform at the 2019 Melbourne Cup.
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"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."
But it wasn't just organisations that turned against Swift; fans weren't happy either.
One person wrote on Twitter: "Hmm Taylor swift is performing at the Melbourne Cup which is the biggest Horse Racing Day in Australia. Horses die every single year from this race. Perform at pride or something gurl? Why this?"
A second fan added: "This is the worst PR decision Taylor Swift and her team have made in recent years to perform at the Melbourne Cup. As a fan and Melbourne resident, I am genuinely disgusted and disappointed."
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A third said: "As a stan I usually blindly support everything Taylor Swift does but I just can't get behind her singing at the Melbourne Cup. It's passive support of a terrible corrupt industry and I just hope she's uninformed."
But Taylor doesn't seem phased by all the drama, saying she's really excited to come down and check out what all the excitement is about.
At the end of the day, it is the 'Race that Stops the Nation' and there are loads of people who enjoy taking part.
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Writing on Instagram, the Flemington Race Club said: "The VRC is SUPER excited to announce ten-time GRAMMY Award-winning, record-breaking global superstar @TaylorSwift will be performing at Flemington on @LexusAustralia Melbourne Cup Day!
"The American singer-songwriter will sing two of her latest hits in the Mounting Yard ahead of 'the race that stops a nation' in what will be Taylor's only public appearance in Australia following the release of her critically-loved smash seventh studio album Lover."
Fans will no doubt be mad that it will be her only performance in Australia however if you want to get amongst the action then you'll have to snap up tickets fast.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Entertainment, Celebrity, Australia