Singer Keli Holiday has cancelled a scheduled performance at Royal Randwick racecourse in Sydney, Australia, following criticism over his agreement to play despite his girlfriend, Abbie Chatfield’s, public opposition to the horse racing industry.
The cancellation, announced on Wednesday, came just 24 hours after Peking Duk, the electronic music duo fronted by Holiday, confirmed the performance as part of Championships Day, according to 9Honey Celebrity. The backlash centered on the perceived hypocrisy of Holiday performing at a horse racing event given Chatfield’s vocal criticism of the industry, which she has described as inherently cruel to animals.
Chatfield, a prominent media personality and influencer, has repeatedly used her platform to advocate against horse racing, citing concerns about animal welfare. News.com.au reported the situation as “Abbie enters the chat,” highlighting the public nature of the conflict and the pressure placed on Holiday.
The controversy quickly escalated on social media, with users accusing Holiday of disregarding his partner’s strongly held beliefs and prioritizing financial gain over ethical considerations. Sky News Australia reported that Holiday was accused of hypocrisy, prompting the reversal of his performance agreement.
Holiday’s decision to withdraw from the event was communicated via social media, with a statement acknowledging the concerns raised and expressing a desire to respect Chatfield’s views. CODE Sports reported that Holiday “axes races gig” in response to the criticism.
As of Thursday, February 12, 2026, neither Royal Randwick officials nor representatives for Peking Duk have issued further statements regarding the cancelled performance or potential replacement acts. Chatfield has not publicly commented on Holiday’s decision beyond acknowledging the situation on social media.
