A photographer in Australia, identified by other media outlets as Ben McDonald, accused Taylor Swift’s father of physical assault. The incident allegedly occurred after the singer’s final concert in Sydney, as she and her entourage were leaving a yacht.
New South Wales police confirmed they are investigating a reported assault involving a 71-year-old man and a 51-year-old man at a Sydney wharf early Tuesday morning. They declined to reveal the identities of those involved but acknowledged the widespread use of names by other news sources.
According to the BBC, Australian media broadcasted a video showing Taylor and her father walking towards a car. The video depicted the singer using an umbrella to shield her face, and her father momentarily raising his middle finger.
McDonald claimed a security guard attempted to obstruct his photography using an umbrella. He further stated that an older man, whom he identified as Taylor’s father, struck him as she entered the car.
“He hit me in the face,” McDonald said, expressing shock at the incident, having never experienced such treatment in his 26-year career.
A statement from Taylor’s representative, Tree Paine, accused McDonald and another photographer of acting aggressively towards Taylor. The statement alleged they “pushed their way towards” the singer, “grabbed at her security personnel,” and even “threatened to throw a female staff member into the water.”
Australian media published another video showcasing photographers taking pictures of the Swifts. The video included someone instructing the photographers to “step away from the vehicle,” followed by commotion involving an umbrella and conflicting claims regarding who touched it first.
Scott Swift, affectionately known as “Papa Swift” by the singer’s fans, is generally well-regarded for his acts of kindness, including distributing sandwiches to fans during a previous concert in Sydney. According to Good Morning America, he left Australia with Taylor as planned after the incident.
The “Eras” tour, which recently became the highest-grossing music tour in history and the first to surpass $1 billion in revenue, will continue in Singapore.
