Jess Mauboy says she suffered a panic attack at the Melbourne Cup.

“It was crazy and I didn’t know what to do.”

Speculation has been rife as to why Jessica Mauboy failed to take the stage to sing at the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.

Now, it has been revealed that the 26-year-old Australian singer suffered a panic attack moments before she was due to sing the National Anthem.

Speaking to News.com.au, Mauboy said:

“Four minutes before I am about to be walked out from the green room, people on one side are bickering with people on another side and it started to suffocate me, it was crazy and I didn’t know what to do.”

All I could feel was all the bad energy coming from people, time stopped and I could see it all going on around me, I could see me stuck on the lounge and I’m thinking ‘Why aren’t you getting up and getting going?’ It was really horrible.”

According to News.com.au, her management had previously issued a statement that Mauboy didn’t sing because, “There was a lot going on yesterday and there was miscommunication with her styling team, unfortunately by the time it was resolved the call time had been missed.”

“Known for her professionalism and her incredible work ethic, Jess is deeply apologetic and devastated that she disappointed fans and racegoers and wasn’t able to perform at such a prestigious event.”

Mauboy also tweeted about her disappearance on Tuesday:

Thank you to everyone for all the messages of concern, I am OK. I am so sorry I didn’t perform at the (cont) https://t.co/JMAoMse9NF

— Jessica Mauboy (@jessicamauboy) November 4, 2015

The full tweet reads:

“Thank you to everyone for all the messages of concern, I am OK. I am so sorry I didn’t perform at the Melbourne Cup yesterday, I was really looking forward to it and of all the days for things to go wrong, unfortunately this was the one. I am so sorry to everyone for the disappointment xxxx JM”

Mauboy’s back up singer Nadia Aya performed in Mauboy’s place, allegedly with only 30 seconds to prepare.

Initially, reports suggested that Mauboy didn’t sign due to a conflict over the shoes she was wearing.

According to Daily Telegraph, Alan Jones on 2GB said that, “Mauboy refused to wear shoes supplied by the official race sponsor Myer.”