CELEBRITY
Taylor Swift’s Dad Scott Accused Of Punching Photographer In Australia
Taylor Swift/Instagram
A photographer has accused Taylor Swift’s dad of punching him in the face as he tried to get photos of the pop star coming off a yacht at the waterfront in Sydney, Australia, early Tuesday, but a rep for Swift said the paparazzo was the aggressive one.
Ben McDonald reported to police that Scott Swift assaulted him at Neutral Bay Wharf, where the pop star and her entourage were disembarking.
“It was just a punch in the chops. Its a little tender, but I dont have any bruising and it didnt require medical assistance,” McDonald told the Associated Press. “In 23 years, I havent been assaulted and punched in the chops, particularly by the talents dad.
Local police said they were investigating a report of an assault, but did not name Swift’s father.
A 71-year-old man allegedly assaulted a 51-year-old man at Neutral Bay Wharf about 2.30 a.m. before leaving the location, the New South Wales Police Force said in a statement. Police said there were no injuries requiring treatment reported.
“There were about four or five security there and at one point, one of the American security started shoving his umbrella into me and my camera and then Taylor got in her car,” McDonald told the AP. “Someone else came running at me and punched me in the left side of my face. Initially, I thought it was an Australian security that was trying to be the hero of the moment in the front of the Americans, but as it turned out it was her father.
McDonald said the photographers at the wharf were civil.
“We didnt go rushing down the jetty. We didnt go rushing to the back of the boat. We waited for her to come up. Kept it very civil,” he said.
But Swift’s camp described events differently, alleging McDonald and another person were being aggressive and threatening in their efforts to get a photo.
“Two individuals were aggressively pushing their way towards Taylor, grabbing at her security personnel, and threatening to throw a female staff member into the water,” a Swift spokesperson said in a statement.
Swift boarded her private jet hours after the incident and left Australia, headed for her next Eras Tour stop in Singapore.
McDonald was at the center of a dispute with Nicole Kidman nearly 20 years ago, and won a restraining order against him, according to People.
In 2005, Kidman was granted restraining orders again McDonald and Jamie Fawcett after reportedly finding a listening device planted inside her home. She said she feared for her safety and became a virtual prisoner in her home because of them. The men were ordered not to approach Kidman at her home or go within 60 feet of her property.
TMX contributed to this article.
