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Jessica Mauboy has revealed a panic attack that engulfed her in the moments before she was due to sing the national anthem at the Melbourne Cup is the reason she unexpectedly backed out of performing at the event.
In an interview with News Ltd, Mauboy has described how "bickering" over her outfit choice immediately before she went on stage threw her off and left her feeling "suffocated" and "devastated".
"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 in the interview.
"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."
Jessica Mauboy has revealed a panic attack led to her withdrawing from singing at the Cup.Credit: Danielle Smith
Mauboy told News Ltd that she believed she was in appropriate attire and did not understand the dispute between her team and the Victorian Racing Club. She recalled someone "yelling about shoes".
Her remarks align with earlier reports that her no-show was related to a dispute over clothing. Fairfax Media reported on Thursday, Mauboy's outfit may not have strictly conformed with the Victorian Racing Club's staunch policy of protecting the exclusive rights of sponsors such as Myer.
Sources confirmed a similar fate befell A-list actress Hilary Swank on Derby Day, who was banned from being photographed with the Melbourne Cup trophy after wearing a dress stocked exclusively by Myer's rival, David Jones.
In a statement to Fairfax Media on Thursday, VRC CEO Simon Love said the club had a duty to protect the exclusive rights of its sponsors.
Jessica Mauboy appeared happy en route to Tuesday's Melbourne CupCredit: Instagram
"The VRC values, respects and supports the very important commercial partners who make a vital contribution to the successful running of the Melbourne Cup Carnival," he said.
"In many cases this involves exclusive rights and the VRC seeks to protect this exclusivity."
A simple pair of shoes are rumoured to be behind the dispute after 26-year-old Mauboy was pictured wearing a dress and fascinator exclusive to Myer.
The VRC released a stern statement on Wednesday saying they were "disappointed" Mauboy had to be replaced at the last minute, but failed to elaborate why.
In a statement which directly conflicted with the VRC's, Mauboy's management blamed a styling issue behind her no-show.
"There was a lot going on yesterday and there was miscommunication with her styling team," her management said. "Unfortunately by the time it was resolved the call time had been missed".
The popular singer is no stranger to high pressure performances but was unable to recover from the panic attack once it had set in.
"I couldn't believe it was this gig. I know how to do the big gigs. I've done Eurovision, sung in front of Oprah, sung in front of Obama and sang the national anthem at the NRL Grand Final just a few weeks ago," she said in the News Ltd interview.
"But I didn't have a moment to refocus and pull myself back together and I am still in shock that it happened.
"I love what I do so I was devastated, disappointed with myself that I couldn't find the courage to refocus with everything going on around me. I would never intentionally let anyone down."
According to the report, she has since met with a counsellor to learn how to cope with anxiety and panic attacks should she ever be in the same situation again.
The singer herself apologised on Wednesday afternoon, with fans writing messages of support despite accusations of diva behaviour.
"Thank you to everyone for all the messages of concern, I am OK," Mauboy wrote on Facebook.
"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."
Fairfax Media