The Victorian Racing Club have told their side of the story, and commentators haven’t stopped speculating, but now Jessica Mauboy has explained, from her perspective, what actually went down on that fateful day.
Shockwaves rippled through the nation after the former Australian Idol star pulled out of singing the national anthem with minutes notice on Cup day, with her reps giving “clothing and preparation” issues as the reason.
But in an interview with News.com.au the musician has revealed it was actually a panic attack that left her unable to perform.
“Four minutes before I am about to be walked out from the green room, people on one side are bickering with people on another side and it started to suffocate me, it was crazy and I didn’t know what to do,” she said.
“All I could feel was all the bad energy coming from people, time stopped and I could see it all going on around me, I could see me stuck on the lounge and I’m thinking ‘Why aren’t you getting up and getting going?’ It was really horrible,” Jess said through tears.
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With just 30 seconds notice her backup vocalist Nadia Aya was forced to step in on the day.
Broadcaster Alan Jones reported on Wednesday that Jess didn’t perform because she wasn’t wearing shoes from the event’s sponsor Myer and as a result wasn’t allowed on stage.
Jess said she was disappointed she didn’t perform on race day.
Earlier this week the president of The Victorian Racing Club gave a stern statement about the predicament, explaining: “We were very disappointed that Jessica Mauboy was on course, and didn’t perform today, we were grateful that Nadia Aya could perform the national anthem ahead of the Emirates Melbourne Cup.”
The Sapphires star also took to social to thank fans for their support after she made headlines.
“Thank you to everyone for all the messages of concern, I am OK. I am so sorry I didn’t perform at the Melbourne Cup yesterday, I was really looking forward to it and of all the days for things to go wrong, unfortunately this was the one. I am so sorry to everyone for the disappointment xxxx JM.”
