Adam Hyde, the musician from the electronic duo Peking Duk, is currently touring across Australia and beyond with bandmate Reuben Styles as part of their Thrills Tour. In a surprising move, the 35-year-old artist recently revealed that he chose to use public transport to reach a festival performance, citing the escalating cost of petrol as the primary reason.
Public Transport Praised Amid Fuel Price Surge
Last week, Peking Duk shared a video on their Instagram page captioned, 'When petrol costs $2.40 but you have a festival to headline.' The clip depicted Adam Hyde and Reuben Styles riding the subway before stepping onto the stage to deliver their set. This responsible display resonated strongly with fans as Australia continues to grapple with a fuel crisis.
Supporters flooded the comments section with praise for the duo's eco-friendly and cost-effective approach. One fan wrote, 'Model citizens. Leading by example in all areas of life. Killing it.' Another remarked, 'Public transportation is always more efficient,' while a third exclaimed, 'How did you just make me love you guys more?!'
Controversial Racing Gig Withdrawal
This positive reception comes after Adam Hyde faced significant public backlash earlier this year. In February, he was scheduled to perform under his stage name 'Keli Holiday' on the first day of Royal Randwick's Championships carnival, an event announced by The Australian Turf Club.
However, following extensive criticism, Hyde officially withdrew from the performance. The Australian Turf Club confirmed the cancellation through a social media post stating, 'The Australian Turf Club (ATC) advises that the scheduled performance by Keli Holiday at The Championships Day 1 has been cancelled. Keli Holiday's management has informed ATC of his decision to withdraw from the performance.'
Hypocrisy Allegations and Public Scrutiny
The initial gig announcement sparked controversy due to Hyde's relationship with media personality Abbie Chatfield, who has been vocal about her anti-racing stance. Chatfield, a podcaster and former Bachelor star, previously made headlines in November 2022 when she criticized celebrities attending Derby Day at the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
She claimed to have refused a substantial payment to appear at a racing event, stating, 'Yeah, I was offered money to go. A lot of money, I said f*** the races.' This made Hyde's planned performance appear contradictory to many observers.
Fans and animal rights activists expressed confusion and disappointment over the booking. One commenter noted, 'I'm all for Australian performers and people from all sides of politics and difference 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?' 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.'
By choosing public transport during his current tour, Adam Hyde appears to be rebuilding his public image and demonstrating practical solutions to real-world challenges like rising fuel costs.
