MELBOURNE, Australia – On Tuesday, a photographer reported to the police that he was assaulted by Taylor Swift’s father on the Sydney waterfront. The alleged incident occurred shortly after the conclusion of the pop star’s Australian tour. Ben McDonald claimed that he was punched in the face by Scott Swift at the Neutral Bay Wharf, where the father and daughter had just disembarked from a yacht. Despite not sustaining serious injuries, McDonald decided to file a report with the authorities.
Describing the assault, McDonald stated, “It was just a punch in the chops. It’s a little tender, but I don’t have any bruising and it didn’t require medical assistance.” He also noted that in his 23 years as a photographer, he had never experienced such an attack before, especially from a celebrity’s father.
Taylor Swift’s representative did not provide an immediate comment in response to the incident. However, a spokesperson for the singer informed Rolling Stone magazine that at the time of the altercation, two individuals were aggressively attempting to approach Taylor Swift, leading to security intervention and threats against a member of her team.
Authorities from the New South Wales Police Force confirmed that they were investigating an alleged assault involving a 51-year-old man and a 71-year-old man at 2:30 a.m. Following the incident, Taylor Swift departed the country on a private jet after entertaining over 600,000 fans during the Australian leg of her Eras Tour across seven stadium concerts.
McDonald recalled that media personnel were present to photograph the star as she walked with her entourage from a jetty to awaiting vehicles. He recounted the sequence of events, highlighting the actions of the security personnel and the subsequent confrontation that led to the alleged assault.
Reflecting on the situation, McDonald emphasized that there was no provocation for violence, noting that they had maintained a civil demeanor while waiting for Taylor Swift. He expressed frustration over the disruptive behavior exhibited during the encounter and highlighted the absence of any justification for the physical altercation.