Sydney, Australia – An Australian photographer, Ben McDonald, has accused Taylor Swift’s father, Scott Swift, of assaulting him on Tuesday. McDonald denies provoking the 71-year-old during the alleged altercation, claiming there was no aggression on his part. The incident reportedly took place when McDonald and his team discovered where Swift was being escorted off a yacht.
According to McDonald, the security detail became annoyed with them for finding out Swift’s whereabouts. However, Swift’s spokesperson stated that the photographer and his team were aggressively approaching Taylor, grabbing at her security personnel, and even threatening staff members.
McDonald mentioned that he did not know who Scott Swift was until after the incident and that in a video clip captured by another photographer, Scott was seen flipping them off while holding hands with Taylor. McDonald initially mistook Scott for a security guard, but soon realized he was Taylor’s father.
Following the altercation, McDonald reported the incident to the police, who have initiated an investigation into Scott Swift. McDonald also explained that Swift’s team used umbrellas to shield her from photographers, which led to a physical confrontation where he alleges Scott punched him in the face.
This is not the first time McDonald has been involved in a high-profile incident involving a celebrity. In 2005, Nicole Kidman won a court battle against McDonald and another photographer after a listening device was found on her property in Sydney. A lawyer for McDonald denied any involvement in planting the device.
McDonald described the situation as tense, attributing heated moments to inexperience on the part of security guards. He emphasized that he and his team do not operate aggressively and prefer to maintain calm situations. The photographer’s account sheds light on the challenges of paparazzi culture and the complexities of interacting with high-profile celebrities.