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MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A photographer told police that Taylor Swift’s father punched him in the face on Sydney’s waterfront 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.
The veteran paparazzo said he decided to report the attack to the police despite not being seriously injured.
“It was just a punch in the face. He is a little tender, but I don’t have any bruising and he 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 Swift’s rep did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
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.
Taylor Swift left the country on a private jet on Tuesday, after more than 600,000 fans watched the Australian leg of her Eras Tour across seven concerts in Australian stadiums.
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 towards me and punched me on the left side of my face. “At first I thought he was an Australian security agent trying to be the hero of the moment against the Americans, but it turned out it was his father,” added McDonald.
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 along the pier. We didn’t run to the back of the ship. We waited for her to come up. She kept it very civil,” she said.
“But no, they had to be (expletive) and put the umbrellas on top of 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.