Pop star Taylor Swift’s father Scott has been charged with assault for punching a photographer in Australia.
According to reports, the incident allegedly happened at a ferry pier in Sydney as Taylor Swift stepped off a yacht. News.com.au.
“Paparazzi photographer Ben MacDonald claims Swift’s father Scott Swift assaulted him at a Sydney ferry pier early Tuesday morning,” the newspaper reported. “He told NCA Newswire he was covering Taylor’s outings on Sydney Harbor at the time of the alleged attack, which left him with ‘a sore chop and a bruised ego’.”
“Video of the incident showed a security guard with an umbrella waiting on the pier for Swift to arrive. As the two walked from the pier, the umbrella appeared in view as photographers began taking photos. “I blocked it,” he added.
Taylor Swift’s father, Scott Swift, has been charged with assault.
A photographer claims he assaulted Scott Swift at Neutral Bay Pier around 2:30 a.m. after the singer disembarked from his luxury yacht. #9News
Story: https://t.co/Ty9ZfCc01h pic.twitter.com/4l1KhVIaw2
— 9News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) February 27, 2024
A NSW Police spokesperson confirmed the charges in Australia on Tuesday morning.
“Police were told that a 71-year-old man was suspected of assaulting a 51-year-old man before leaving the scene at Neutral Bay Pier at around 2.30am,” the spokesperson said. “A young man reported the incident and an investigation is currently being carried out by officers from North Shore Police Area Command.”
Scott Swift was celebrating his daughter’s final Sydney performance in Australia when the alleged paparazzi assault occurred.
Ben MacDonald said the altercation occurred as Swift stepped off the yacht at the Neutral Bay pier, surrounded by security guards.
“As she approached, the security guard shoved an umbrella in my face and the camera, and then as she got into the car, her father lunged at me and decided to hit me with a chop,” he claimed.
File/Scott Swift and his daughter Taylor attend the 48th Academy of Country Music Awards held at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 7, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Getty)
McDonald said she first learned the identity of her alleged attacker after the security guard joked, “That’s not me.”
“At first I didn’t know it was her father,” he said. “When I looked back at the photo, I saw him holding hands with Taylor, and it became clear that that was her father.”
Many, Mr MacDonald said, said he had “more of a wounded self-esteem than anything else”. Police confirmed he did not require medical treatment.
Swift spokesperson told Fox News The photographers were unruly.
A spokesperson said: “Two individuals aggressively advanced towards Taylor, grabbed the security guard and threatened to throw the female staff member into the water.”
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