Taylor Swift’s Father, 71, Accused Of Assault

Authorities are probing into an assault allegation aimed at Taylor Swift’s father. Photographer Ben McDonald has accused Scott Swift, Taylor’s father, of attacking him at the ferry docks in Sydney during the early hours of Tuesday.

McDonald shared with NCA NewsWire that he was documenting Taylor’s activities on Sydney Harbour when he supposedly suffered the assault, resulting in “a sore jaw and a bruised ego.”

“Police have been told a 71-year-old man allegedly assaulted a 51-year-old man at Neutral Bay Wharf about 2.30am before leaving the location,” a NSW Police spokesman said Tuesday morning.

WATCH:

Oh Sh*t

Taylor Swift’s dad just got into an altercation with paparazzi while she was she using an umbrella to cover herself.

What were they trying to hide? pic.twitter.com/n6GJUwmFUb

— Matt Wallace (@MattWallace888) February 27, 2024

The younger man reported the incident, which is now being investigated by officers from the North Shore Police Area Command. Swift and her father were out celebrating her last show in Sydney when the incident happened.

Footage of the incident captured security personnel equipped with umbrellas at the wharf awaiting Swift’s arrival. As Swift and her father approached from the wharf, the umbrellas obscure the scene as photographers start snapping pictures. The owner of the Matrix photo agency, who was the photographer involved, described the incident to NCA NewsWire as “crazy.”

It occurred as she was leaving the boat at Neutral Bay wharf. “As she got closer, the security shoved his umbrella in my face and camera, then as she got in the car her dad decides to charge me and punch me in the chops” McDonald alleged. He jokingly noted that although one security guard quickly stated, “that wasn’t me”, he only later realized who the individual was.

“I didn’t realize it was her dad to start with,” he shared. “I looked back at the pictures and saw he was holding hands with Taylor – it then became evident that was her father.” The photographer, left with a “sore chop” from the incident, remarked it was “just a bruised ego more than anything.” Police confirmed that McDonald did not require any medical treatment.

However, A spokesperson for Taylor Swift told Rolling Stone, “Two individuals were aggressively pushing their way towards Taylor,” following reports that her father was involved in an alleged altercation with paparazzi.

“Two individuals were aggressively pushing their way towards Taylor, grabbing at her security personnel, and threatening to throw a female staff member into the water,” the spokesperson explained.

Though the New South Wales Police Force did not mention Scott Swift by name, they responded with information to a request that named Scott and referred to Daily Mail‘s reporting. Scott Swift is 71 years old. McDonald recounted to the Daily Mail, “She got off the boat, she walked towards security guards who were shoving umbrellas in our faces, and then he charged,” labeling Swift’s team’s assertion as “utter rubbish.”

The situation unfolds in the wake of Taylor concluding her series of Eras Tour concerts in Australia on Monday, having performed for three nights in Melbourne and four nights in Sydney. Her next destination is Singapore, where she is scheduled for six shows at the Singapore National Stadium in March.