Swift to Aussie media: ‘Take it down a notch’

TAYLOR Swift has asked the Aussie media to “take it down a notch” as she takes a short vacation on Hamilton Island with her 125 crew.

TAYLOR Swift has asked the Aussie media to “take it down a notch” as she takes a short vacation on Hamilton Island with her 125 crew.

Swift, the most popular person on Instagram, posted a picture of her 1989 touring posse and appeared to debunk rumours she was having an exclusive birthday party on the island with her A-list friends.

“So stoked to be able to take my band and crew on a vacation at the end of a long and wonderful tour,” she wrote. “For all their hard work this year, they really deserve it. Thank you to Hamilton Island for taking such great care of 125 of the people who work tirelessly to make sure the 1989 World Tour stage gets built, the lights are on, the costumes are made, the guitars are tuned, and the show goes on.

“Aussie press, I love your enthusiasm but my birthday isn’t for 2 weeks and it’ll be a quiet one this year. Let’s take it down a notch :)”

It’s rumoured Swift will also celebrate her 26th birthday with her boyfriend Calvin Harris and her family on the luxury island.

Her famous friends Selena Gomez and Gigi Hadid are also rumoured to be attending.

The post came after Sunrise reporter Michelle Tapper was kicked off Hamilton Island as security tried to ensure Taylor Swift’s privacy.

The American pop star imposed a media ban on Queensland’s Hamilton Island ahead of an intimate gig for Nova 96.9’s red room concert series.

It’s rumoured Swift will also celebrate her 26th birthday with her boyfriend Calvin Harris and her family on the luxury island. Swift’s famous friends Selena Gomez and Gigi Hadid are also rumoured to be attending.

TV correspondent Tapper and other Seven Network staff tried and failed to get on the privately-owned island on Wednesday morning ahead of the big event.

“Kicked off Hamilton Island due to Taylor Swift media ban, now security on water,” Tapper tweeted.

“I was met at the airport yesterday by half a dozen security guards,” Tapper said in a video for Sunrise.

“He’s told us we need to leave the waters but I’m not sure how legal that is. We were told yesterday that legally they could ask us to leave Hamilton Island because it is privately owned,” she said.

The island was purchased in 2003 by millionaire winemaker and sailing enthusiast Bob Oatley.

It is understood that Swift told organisers of the concert that no media would be allowed to attend, even as private guests of the sponsors.

Sunrise reporter Michelle Tapper and a number of other staff who landed on Hamilton Island yesterday were quickly stopped and turned around.

But some have clearly snuck in to the island before the ban was imposed.

“I do know there are a number of journalists on the island,” Tapper said during a live cross from a boat anchored near Qualia Resort.

According to some unimpressed holiday-makers the island has been inundated with paparazzi defying the ban.

“Taylor Swift has arrived on Hamilton Island = pause on our family holiday due to the paparazzi taking all the golf buggies!” tweeted Snezana.

Swift will play a stadium show in Brisbane on Saturday December 5.

Originally published as Swift to Aussie media: ‘Take it down a notch’