A pair of Taylor Swift fans have been called out for asking strangers to chip in money for fuel during their 1,500km trip to attend her concert.
Superfans Emily and Gemma drove frove from Lismore, NSW, through three n states to see the 14-time Grammy winner at Melbourne’s MCG.
On their vehicle’s back windscreen, they provided a PayID number for donations with the message: ‘1500 KMs to Taylor Swift. #2brokegirls.’
However, some ns criticised the fans for essentially begging for money when a photo of the car’s back window was shared on Facebook.
One woman called it ’embarrassing and shameless’.
‘I’m not here to start fights or s*** on Taylor Swift or her fans,’ she explained.
‘I’m just making a point about how embarrassing and shameless it is to ask others for money to go to a concert because they can’t afford it.
‘No, you don’t have to donate to them, but it’s wild to ask for donations when everyone is struggling right now.’
‘If she can afford Taylor Swift, she can afford god damn fuel,’ a second agreed.
The Taylor Swift superfans provided a PayID number for strangers to donate for their fuel
Emily (pictured) and her friend Gemma embarked on a 1500km journey down the east coast to catch Taylor Swift’s first n concert in Melbourne on Friday
However, others were more sympathetic to the fans.
‘Work smarter, not harder,’ one person wrote.
‘I should’ve done this, we just drove to Melbs from Brisbane,’ another said.
A third shared: ‘I love how y’all are acting like they’re robbing people when y’all actually have free choice.’
One woman said she had donated money to the pair.
‘This is hilarious. I have adult money so I sent them some. Hope they have fun,’ another said.
The fans shared photos of their luggage and bejewelled costumes in the backseat of the car
Meanwhile, thousands of excited Swifties decked out in cowboy boots, glittery clothing and friendship bracelets have converged at the MCG for the show.
Crowds at the MCG are tipped to reach 260,000 across three nights.
The Melbourne shows will be followed by four sold-out concerts at Accor Stadium in Sydney from next Friday.
The lines were long at merchandise stores from early on Friday and fans have the green light to queue at gates for the ticketed event from 2.30pm.
Stadium operators previously pleaded with fans who don’t have tickets to stay away from parkland around the venue, over concerns people would gather and cause safety issues.
The Eras tour takes in every phase of Taylor Swift’s career in concerts that run more than three hours, from her Speak Now album to Reputation and the more recent Midnights.
Eras Tour excitement has arrived in Melbourne as fans of pop megastar Taylor Swift flocked to the MCG for the first concert of her tour
The lines were long at merchandise stores from early on Friday and fans have the green light to queue at gates for the ticketed event from 2.30pm
Fans spent hours queuing and waiting on websites to secure coveted tickets to the show, with a second last-minute release on Thursday and the promise of further tickets being released on show days.
The concerts are expected to provide an economic boost for Victoria and NSW, with Swifties from interstate and overseas booking flights and hotels.
Melbourne’s free tram zone has been extended to the MCG while extra train, tram and bus services will be running on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Concertgoers from regional Victoria were urged to make alternative arrangements as some V/Line rail staff staged another round of strikes on Friday, but services returned to normal by late morning.
The area around the MCG is expected to be busy on concert nights with surrounding roads closed off in addition to A-League Men matches at nearby AAMI Park on two nights and NBL at John Cain Arena on Saturday.