Annie Knight reveals horrific backlash to Melbourne Cup drama
Annie Knight has revealed what happened at Flemington after she was accused of entering the exclusive Birdcage without an invite.
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Annie Knight has revealed she copped horrific backlash after it was reported she had been “begging” for an invitation into the exclusive Birdcage at the Melbourne Cup.
The Gold Coast-based sex worker, who has been dubbed “Australia’s most sexually active woman”, hit headlines for allegedly talking her way into the prestigious area during last year’s race that stops the nation.
Ms Knight, 27, quickly shut down claims she “spent days begging industry guests for an invite” ahead of the 2023 Cup Day – but it did nothing to stop the onslaught of abuse she received from strangers who “sl*t-shamed” her.
“The backlash was pretty grim. Why shouldn’t a sex worker be at the Birdcage? We’re not some crazy monsters, we’re still people,” she told news.com.au.
“One of the things I have found doing sex work is that people have this idea of what a sex worker looks like, and I don’t fit that mould or have the ‘look’ they would expect.
“I like the fact people are shocked by it, because we don’t all fit into one mould or category, we come in all different shapes and sizes and we’re all from different walks of life.”
Ms Knight added that while the remarks are likely said to hurt her, she actually finds them funny.
“When I do see comments like that it makes me laugh because it’s like, ‘of course I am in the Birdcage, I’ve worked really really hard, I like to have fun. Where else would I be?”
The former marketing exec, who was fired from her professional job when her boss discovered she was selling explicit content outside of office hours, was seen wearing a figure-hugging pink dress while hanging out trackside at Flemington Racecourse last year.
Her outfit, a House of CB dress, featured a low cut bustline which she paired with gold jewellery and a matching clutch bag.
However, her day out took a turn after it was reported that she was taking extreme measures to get inside a Birdcage marquee.
“I’m from Melbourne originally and I love the races, I’ve been going every year since I was eight years old, I’ve got a full VRC (Victorian Racing Club) membership so I can go anywhere, including into the Birdcage,” she told news.com.au.
“I had been lucky to get invited to the Schweppes marquee, but when I was inside, I was sent a news article claiming I had ‘begged’ to be allowed access to the Birdcage.
“I looked down at it and I was really shocked, I thought ‘are you joking me?’”
Ms Knight said the reports were “fabricated”, explaining that what actually happened was far less interesting.
“I had mentioned to a contact who works in the media industry that I had never been into any of the marquees before and I thought it would be really fun,” the porn star explained.
“She came back to me and said she might be able to help, but I never heard anything back. That was it.
“I kind of felt betrayed because this contact had been so lovely to me and had offered to help, but I certainly never ‘begged’ to get in. It was so mean.”
Thankfully, she didn’t let it ruin her day, and has big plans for Melbourne Cup 2024 following her appearance at Derby Day on Saturday.
Originally published as Annie Knight reveals horrific backlash to Melbourne Cup drama
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