Adam Hyde, the frontman of Peking Duk and boyfriend of media personality Abbie Chatfield, has publicly addressed the cancellation of his heavily-criticised performance at a major horse racing event. The musician, who performs under the stage name Keli Holiday, was scheduled to appear at Royal Randwick's Championships carnival on April 4, but withdrew amid a wave of backlash from fans and animal rights activists.
Social Media Explanation and Apology
Taking to his Instagram Stories on Thursday, the 35-year-old hitmaker clarified that his advertised gig resulted from a miscommunication within his team. He stated, "Not playing the races FYI. The gig was booked in the chaotic end of last year as a result of miscommunication within my team and wasn't the fault of ATC." Hyde extended apologies all around, accompanying his message with a video of a fan twerking at one of his concerts and adding, "Anyway here's some horsepower we can all get around."
Backdrop of Controversy and Hypocrisy Claims
The announcement of Hyde's performance had initially surprised racing enthusiasts and animal rights advocates, given Chatfield's vocal criticism of the industry. In November 2022, the 30-year-old podcaster and former Bachelor star made headlines by blasting celebrities who attended Derby Day at the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Chatfield revealed she had turned down a significant payday to appear at a racing event, exclaiming in an Instagram Story, "Guys I thought we were done with the races... What the hell?" She later posted a follow-up clip, noting she received snarky comments and confirming, "Yeah, I was offered money to go. A lot of money, I said f*** the races."
Hyde's planned performance at Randwick drew mostly negative reactions from confused fans. One commenter questioned, "I'm all for Australian performers and people from all sides of politics and different opinion, but this person and partner speak out so loudly about horse racing in The Spring that I feel it's a bit tone deaf?" Another added, "Shows how hypocritical the anti-racing mob can be really?!" while a third remarked, "Guess we're not that done with the races."
Animal Rights Activists Weigh In
Animal rights activists were quick to call out the high-profile couple. Instagram account 'warriorforanimals' accused both Hyde and Chatfield of attending races "despite shaming everyone else," labelling their actions as virtue signalling. The post read, "Keli Holiday will be performing at the races for Royal Randwick's The Championships... Virtue signalling is clearly what you both do best and this proves it once again. Get off your high horses Abbie Chatfield and Kelli Holiday!"
Event Details and Aftermath
Hyde's performance was set to kick off after the final contest of the 10-race card, which features prestigious Group 1 classics like the TJ Smith, the Doncaster Mile, and the ATC Derby. The three-week Autumn carnival is a cornerstone of Sydney's racing scene, alongside the super-successful The Everest meet in October. Last year's Melbourne Cup Carnival attracted over 286,000 attendees, while more than 50,000 fans flocked to The Everest at Randwick.
Following Hyde's sudden exit, speculation arose over whether it was an attempt to safeguard his progressive brand or placate Chatfield, an outspoken critic of the racing industry. The Australian Turf Club (ATC) is now scrambling to find a replacement. When asked if they were blindsided by the withdrawal, an ATC spokesperson said, "We are actively working through replacement options." This leaves punters wondering who will take the stage, adding uncertainty to the highly anticipated event.
The exact amount Hyde was slated to earn from the performance remains unknown, but the incident highlights the ongoing tensions between celebrity endorsements, personal ethics, and public perception in the world of entertainment and sports.
