Taylor Swift ‘mulled over deal to perform at the Melbourne Cup for three months’

She recently faced major criticism from animal rights activists after it was announced she will be headlining Australia’s most prestigious horse racing event: the Melbourne Cup.

But according to a new report, the decision to perform at this year’s event wasn’t a decision ten-time Grammy winner Taylor Swift took lightly. 

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that according to ‘organisers,’ the Shake It Off Hitmaker, 29, ‘mulled over the deal to perform at this year’s Melbourne Cup for three months.’ 

Stage stunner! According to a new report, the decision to perform at this year’s event wasn’t a decision ten-time Grammy winner Taylor Swift (pictured) took lightly

The publication reports that the blonde hit maker then inked a deal with ‘eyes wide open,’ and reports that she got a rumoured $500,000 fee for the performance. 

The Sydney Morning Herald also reports that Victoria Racing Club executive Caroline Ralphsmith said Taylor had been given a ‘considerable amount of information’ about the industry and the welfare of the horses, before she signed up to perform. 

It comes after the Bad Blood singer was criticised by animal rights activists for agreeing to perform at the Melbourne Cup. 

'She signed with eyes wide open': Taylor Swift 'mulled over deal to perform at the Melbourne Cup for three months' before inking a rumoured $500,000 deal... after backlash from animal rights activists

‘She signed with eyes wide open’: Taylor Swift ‘mulled over deal to perform at the Melbourne Cup for three months’ before inking a rumoured $500,000 deal… after backlash from animal rights activists

Backlash: It comes after the Bad Blood singer was criticised by animal rights activists for agreeing to perform at the Melbourne Cup

Backlash: It comes after the Bad Blood singer was criticised by animal rights activists for agreeing to perform at the Melbourne Cup

Taylor – who has a rumoured net worth of $360 million – will perform two songs before ‘the race that stops a nation’ at Flemington Racecourse on Tuesday, November 5.

But fans of the 29-year-old singer have expressed their ‘disappointment’ on Twitter that she will attend the Melbourne Cup due to the ‘cruel’ nature of the sport.

One concerned fan tweeted: ‘Dear Taylor, cancel this performance in an instant! The Melbourne Cup promotes animal cruelty and every year a horse dies due to the cruelty of that event.’ 

Another person wrote: ‘If she cares about her fans she will cancel. Horse racing is disgusting and cruel. [Taylor], please cancel… [This is a] terrible career move.’

‘I’ve always supported you, but the Melbourne Cup? I can’t do that. It’s just plain cruel,’ a third fan penned. 

Announcement: The ten-time Grammy winner will perform two songs before 'the race that stops a nation' at Flemington Racecourse on Tuesday, November 5. Pictured: Two horses cross the finish line at last year's Melbourne Cup on November 6, 2018

Announcement: The ten-time Grammy winner will perform two songs before ‘the race that stops a nation’ at Flemington Racecourse on Tuesday, November 5. Pictured: Two horses cross the finish line at last year’s Melbourne Cup on November 6, 2018

'Terrible career move': Fans of the 29-year-old singer expressed their 'disappointment' on Twitter that she will attend the Melbourne Cup due to the 'cruel' nature of the sport

‘Terrible career move’: Fans of the 29-year-old singer expressed their ‘disappointment’ on Twitter that she will attend the Melbourne Cup due to the ‘cruel’ nature of the sport

A similar tweet read: ‘[I’m] a bit grossed out that the incredible Taylor Swift is throwing her support being the horrible “sport” of horse racing (aka animal torture day) at Melbourne Cup.’ 

Several fans predicted that Taylor’s performance will be a ‘PR disaster’ for the singer, who has only recently recovered from the barrage of negative press she received in 2016 during her public feud with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West.

One person tweeted: ‘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 a Melbourne resident, I am genuinely disgusted and disappointed.’

VIP treatment: International celebrity guests are a fixture of the Melbourne Cup, with previous visitors including Sam Smith (pictured in 2018), Paris Jackson and Paris Hilton

VIP treatment: International celebrity guests are a fixture of the Melbourne Cup, with previous visitors including Sam Smith (pictured in 2018), Paris Jackson and Paris Hilton

Warning: Several fans predicted that Taylor's performance will be a 'PR disaster' for the singer, who has only recently recovered from the barrage of negative press she received in 2016 during her public feud with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West

Warning: Several fans predicted that Taylor’s performance will be a ‘PR disaster’ for the singer, who has only recently recovered from the barrage of negative press she received in 2016 during her public feud with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West

'She does not pay attention to... animal cruelty': Another fan said that Taylor's decision to support horse racing proves she has a moral blind spot when it comes to animal cruelty

‘She does not pay attention to… animal cruelty’: Another fan said that Taylor’s decision to support horse racing proves she has a moral blind spot when it comes to animal cruelty

Another fan said that Taylor’s decision to support horse racing proves she has a moral blind spot when it comes to animal cruelty.

They wrote on Twitter: ‘She claimed support for Democrats, LGBT [people] and human rights. But she does not pay attention to the fact that the Melbourne Cup is notorious for promoting animal cruelty.’

Taylor’s fans were also furious over on Facebook, with one person making a rather distasteful joke about racehorses who are put down after injuring themselves.

‘If she breaks a leg on stage, do we shoot her?’ they commented below a news article about the Melbourne Cup performance.

‘Pretty disappointed that she would support this,’ another fan wrote, which prompted the scathing reply: ‘Must be a good payday for her.’ 

Backlash: Taylor's fans were also furious over on Facebook, with one person making a rather distasteful joke about racehorses who are put down after injuring themselves

Backlash: Taylor’s fans were also furious over on Facebook, with one person making a rather distasteful joke about racehorses who are put down after injuring themselves

Crass: 'If she breaks a leg on stage, do we shoot her?' the Facebook user commented, which prompted the scathing reply, 'Must be a good payday for her'

Crass: ‘If she breaks a leg on stage, do we shoot her?’ the Facebook user commented, which prompted the scathing reply, ‘Must be a good payday for her’

Meanwhile, the Coalition For The Protection of Racehorses has been quick off the mark with a social media campaign to ask Taylor to say #NupToTheCup.

‘Taylor Swift has put money before compassion by agreeing to perform at the 2019 Melbourne Cup,’ the group posted online in the wake of the announcement.

‘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.’ 

In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, Victoria Racing Club CEO Neil Wilson said: ‘The well-being of all visitors to Flemington is the priority for the Victoria Racing Club.’ 

‘The VRC acknowledges concerns about horse welfare from sections of the community and works closely with the racing industry to provide the safest conditions for all horses and riders taking to the track during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.’ 

Taylor’s latest album, Lover, is Australia’s highest-selling album for the year and has already generated more than one billion streams in the country.

Her Melbourne Cup performance will be Taylor’s only public appearance while in Australia. 

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Taylor Swift’s publicist Tree Paine for comment, in relation to this article. 

Campaign: The Coalition For The Protection of Racehorses has also been quick off the mark with a social media campaign to ask Taylor to say #NupToTheCup

Campaign: The Coalition For The Protection of Racehorses has also been quick off the mark with a social media campaign to ask Taylor to say #NupToTheCup

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk