Peking Duk’s Adam Hyde and his media personality girlfriend Abbie Chatfield have been slammed as hypocrites after the top-charting musician took a paid gig to perform at a major race meet despite her anti-racing stance.
The Australian Turf Club announced Hyde would perform under his stage name ‘Keli Holiday’ on the first day of Royal Randwick’s Championships carnival on April 4.
The announcement took racing fans and animal rights activists by surprise, after Chatfield, 30, made headlines when she blasted celebrities who attended Derby Day at the Melbourne Cup Carnival in November 2022.
The podcaster and former Bachelor star claimed she had refused a significant payday to make an appearance at a racing carnival event.
‘Guys I thought we were done with the races,’ Chatfield said in a clip shared to her Instagram Stories at the time.
‘I thought that wasn’t a thing anymore. Like, why are so many people going to the races. What the hell?’
Chatfield then posted a second clip in which she said she had gotten ‘snarky comments’ from people who had asked her over DMs if she was even invited.
‘Yeah, I was offered money to go. A lot of money, I said f*** the races,’ she said.
Adam Hyde (above) will perform under his stage name ‘Keli Holiday’ on day one of Royal Randwick’s world-class Championships carnival on April 4
In 2022, Chatfield, now 30, claimed she refused a significant payday to make an appearance at a racing carnival event
The announcement Hyde will perform at Randwick was met with a mostly negative response from confused fans.
‘I’m all for Australian performers and people from all sides of politics and different of 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?’ one said.
‘Shows how hypocritical the anti-racing mob can be really?!’ a second said.
‘Guess we’re not that done with the races,’ a third commented.
Animal rights activists also called out the high-profile couple.
Instagram animal rights activist ‘warriorforanimals’ claimed both Hyde and Chatfield would attend the races ‘despite shaming everyone else’.
‘Keli Holiday will be performing at the races for Royal Randwick’s ‘The Championships’,’ the account posted.
‘Virtue signalling is clearly what you both do best and this proves it once again. Get off your high horses Abbi[e] Chatfield and Kelli Holiday!’
The high-profile couple (pictured in November) have been slammed by Aussies
The Australian Turf Club announced Hyde will perform as Keli Holiday
More than 50,000 fans packed Royal Randwick for The Everest meet last October
The ATC confirmed Hyde will be performing at the event as Keli Holiday.
‘You’ll be dancing,’ ATC interim-CEO Steve McMahon told the Daily Mail.
It’s unknown how much Hyde will earn from his performance which will kick off after the final contest of the 10-race card which features Group 1 classics the TJ Smith, the Doncaster Mile and the ATC Derby.
The prestigious three-week Autumn carnival is the jewel of Sydney‘s racing crown alongside the super-successful The Everest meet held in October.
More than 286,000 people attended last year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival while more than 50,000 fans attended The Everest at Randwick.
Before Hyde takes the stage, fans and other attendees will enjoy seeing some of the world’s best horses battle it out for millions in ultra-rich pots.
Some of the big names expected to compete on the first include Victoria Derby winner and Godolphin star Observer, The Everest runner-up Tempted and star mare Autumn Glow.