Investigation underway after Taylor Swift’s father is accused of assaulting photographer in Australia
- A 71-year-old man is being investigated by Australian police for allegedly assaulting a photographer in Sydney early on Tuesday.
- The photographer claimed that the man who assaulted him is Taylor Swift’s father.
- The alleged victim, Ben McDonald, stated that a man confronted him and punched him.
Australian police stated that they are investigating a 71-year-old man for allegedly assaulting a photographer in Sydney in the early hours of Tuesday. The photographer identified the man as Taylor Swift’s father.
“Police have been told a 71-year-old man allegedly assaulted a 51-year-old man at Neutral Bay Wharf around 2:30 AM, before leaving the location,” said police spokesperson Alicia McCumstie to AFP.
“The younger man reported the incident, and North Shore Police Area Command officers are now conducting inquiries.”
The alleged victim, Ben McDonald, told AFP that the man who assaulted him was Scott Swift, Taylor Swift’s father.
McDonald mentioned that he was taking photos of the US pop icon on a “super yacht” in Sydney Harbour after her final concert in the city.
McDonald claimed that Swift’s security used an umbrella to obstruct his view while Taylor Swift was walking to a waiting vehicle.
After Taylor Swift left, McDonald alleged that a man approached him and punched him in the face.
“I didn’t recognize him at first, but after looking at pictures, I saw him holding hands with Taylor, and I realized it was her dad.”
“It was unexpected. I have never experienced something like this in my 26 years of work,” he said.
Australian police typically do not publicly name individuals involved in allegations of crimes.
Taylor Swift is currently on her Eras Tour, which is expected to be the highest-grossing musical tour of all time, surpassing $1 billion, according to Pollstar. She is set to perform in Singapore this week as part of her global tour.