"It is very sad that they have given into bullying. They don't believe in freedom of speech. Parents have a right to know all sides of the debate," Ms Messenger said.
Sherri Tenpenny hoped to visit Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane to share her beliefs that vaccines are linked to autism, asthma and auto-immune diseases.
Speaking to Channel 9 from her home in Cleveland, Ohio, Ms Tenpenny said she was still hopeful of making a trip after a strong backlash from pro-vaccine campaigners forced many venues to cancel events.
“I know that we’re still trying to find locations, but it’s become quite difficult with the extremists there, they’re making it very challenging to schedule another event,” she said.
“Of course, I wasn’t the one who set these up, it’s been an organiser in Australia and I was coming as an invited guest to speak.”
Ms Tenpenny said she believed some venues pulled out after bomb threats and death threats.
“I’m not really speaking against anything, I’m just pro-information,” she said.
Pro-vaccination group Stop the Australian Anti-Vaccination Network campaigned strongly against the visit, saying Ms Tenpenny’s views endangered people’s health and targeted vulnerable patients.
The Kareela Golf & Social Club, in Sydney’s south, was among the first to cancel. A spokesman said the club didn’t want to be associated with the controversial topic.
The club’s Facebook page was subsequently flooded with messages from Ms Tenpenny’s supporters, criticising the back-down.
At least five venues then followed suit, bowing to public pressure and cancelling the event.
Some punters had paid as much as $200 to attend.
Ms Tenpenny said she “did not know” whether those who bought tickets would get their money back.
“I believe they will, but that’s not in my hands,” she said.
