PETA slams Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce over date at Sydney Zoo

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have this week found themselves in hot water with animal rights charity PETA.

The celebrity power couple - who confirmed their romance back in September - were papped enjoying a romantic date together in Sydney zoo this week, amid the singer's ongoing Eras Tour Down Under.

NFL star Travis flew over to Australia this week to meet his musician beau - following the Kansas City Chiefs' success at this year's Super Bowl, at which the couple put on an EXTREMELY loved-up display.

And while soaking up some Aussie sun in the popular tourist city, the duo, both 34, opted to visit some of Sydney's most well-loved hotspots, including a zoo.

Though the prospect of visiting animals was, at one point, widely considered to be a fun-filled family day out, debates over the morality of keeping creatures in captivity in recent years mean many visitors are reconsidering the tourist hotspots.

This being the case, it's no surprise that animal rights charity boss PETA has fired shots at the couple, after they were papped by Australian media taking a private tour of the zoo and petting a baby kangaroo.

9 News Australia

Debbie Metzler, PETA's Foundation Director of Captive Animal Welfare has slammed the couple for the move in a newly-released statement, demanding to know why Taylor and Travis couldn't have visited a more ethical sanctuary instead.

Referencing Swift's 2012 song, she told TMZ: "While we understand all too well the appeal of seeing Australia's wildlife, PETA hopes that next time Taylor and Travis want to see wild animals, they'll spend their time and money at a true sanctuary."

Debbie also reemphasised that you're not allowed to touch or pet the animals in sanctuaries, so as not to distress them.

Instead, visitors are expected to keep a 'respectable distance' from them, which is believed to serve as a 'better environment for the animals'.

9 News Australia

This isn't the first time that the Grammy Award winner has come under fire from campaigners in recent months, however.

After the country-pop singer was previously accused of producing 138 tons of CO2 in three months from flying around in her private jet, and her representatives were forced to defend her behaviour.

They told UNILAD in a statement: "Before the tour kicked off in March of 2023, Taylor purchased more than double the carbon credits needed to offset all tour travel.

"The excess credits means Taylor could have accounted for more than enough to cover her latest romance springing up in the middle of her sell-out tour, with her trips to support Kelce upping her carbon emissions alongside her planned tour travels."

LADbible Group has contacted contacted representatives for Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce and Sydney Zoo for comment.