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Melbourne, Australia — A photographer told police that Taylor Swift’s father punched him in the face on the Sydney waterfront on Tuesday, hours after the pop star’s Australian tour ended.
Ben McDonald said he provided police with a statement alleging Scott Swift assaulted him at Neutral Bay Wharf, where the father and daughter had just come ashore from a yacht.
Don Arnold / TAS24 / Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
Agence France-Presse reports that McDonald said he had been taking photographs of the pop superstar and his entourage on a luxury superyacht in Sydney Harbor during an apparent late-night celebration after the Australian leg of his Eras Tour concluded.
The veteran paparazzo said he decided to report the attack to the police despite not being seriously injured.
“It was just a punch to the jaw. It’s a little painful, but I don’t have any bruises and it didn’t require medical assistance,” McDonald said.
“In 23 years, I have not been attacked or hit in the face, particularly by the father of talent,” he added.
Taylor SwiftThe U.S. representative did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment from The Associated Press.
But a spokesperson for the star told Rolling Stone that at the time of the incident, two people were “aggressively pushing” to get to Taylor Swift, grabbed security and threatened a member of the singer’s staff.
The NSW Police Force press office confirmed police were investigating the alleged assault of a 51-year-old man by a 71-year-old man at 2.30am. Police did not release names, in line with their policy. accusations.
But AFP says that, in addition to McDonald, a police source identified the accused man as Scott Swift.
The AFP quotes Australian police as saying that Scott Swift “has left the country” but that investigations are continuing.
Taylor Swift left Australia on a private jet on Tuesday, after more than 600,000 fans watched that leg of her tour span seven stadium concerts. Singapore is the next stop. AFP says more than 300,000 fans gobbled up tickets for their six sold-out dates at the National Stadium.
McDonald said the media had been waiting to photograph the star as she walked with her entourage from a pier to two waiting cars.
“There were about four or five security members there and at one point, one of the American security members started pushing his umbrella towards me and my camera and then Taylor got into his car,” McDonald told the AP.
“Someone else came running up to me and hit me on the left side of the face. At first I thought it was an Australian safety trying to be the hero of the moment against the Americans, but it turned out it was his father,” McDonald added.
McDonald said she realized her alleged attacker was not part of the security team after seeing a photo of him holding Swift’s hand while reviewing photos from the night. McDonald later identified Scott Swift from an online image.
McDonald said there had been no motive for violence.
“We didn’t run down the dock. We didn’t run to the back of the boat. We waited for it to come up. It was very civilized,” he said.
“But no, they had to be (expletive) and put the umbrellas on him and then shove the umbrellas in our faces and then make us see that we are the ones making contact with them,” he added.
Taylor Swift fans were quick to defend her father in social media posts, according to AFP. “Free Scott Swift,” posted one of those users, @Soyytv.
AFP says “Papa Swift,” as he is known, has become a fan favorite, “handing out sandwiches, fruit, guitar picks and VIP passes to the youngsters in his daughter’s audience.”
After a career as a financial advisor, Scott Swift regularly attends Taylor Swift’s concerts and public appearances.