Australian police are investigating an alleged altercation between Taylor Swift’s father, Scott Swift, and a photographer who accused the singer’s father of punching him on the Sydney waterfront early on Tuesday.
Taylor Swift performs at Accor Stadium in Sydney, Australia.
Citing police New South Wales Police officials, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that the incident took place at 2:30 a.m. local time and an inquiry is now being conducted.
Sydney-based paparazzo Ben McDonald told the paper he was “chasing Taylor” along with another photographer after she got off a yacht near the waterfront when the musician’s security team “pushed us around.”
McDonald then alleged that the popstar’s father “decided to add to the mix and throw a punch in,” adding that he did not suffer any serious injuries.
Swift’s representatives confirmed the altercation in a statement to Rolling Stone but accused the two photographers of “aggressively pushing towards” the singer and “threatening to throw a female staff member into the water.”
McDonald told the Sydney Morning Herald that that the spokesperson’s allegations were “an absolute lie,” claiming no other female was present there aside from Swift and “the aggressive behaviour was completely on their part.”
The altercation took place just hours after Swift completed the Australian leg of her Eras Tour. The tour featured three shows at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and four shows at Sydney’s Accor Stadium. Around 96,000 attended the first show in Melbourne on February 16, which Swift said was “the biggest show that we have done on this tour, or any tour, ever.” Several celebrities attended her shows in Australia including Travis Kelce, Katy Perry, Sabrina Carpenter and Rita Ora.
The next leg of the Era’s tour will begin early next month as Swift is scheduled to perform six shows in Singapore.
Taylor Swift’s father investigated for alleged paparazzo assault in Sydney (Sydney Morning Herald)
Taylor Swift’s Team Says They Were ‘Threatened’ by Paps Before Alleged Assault Involving Her Dad (Rolling Stone)
