Taylor Swift’s father escapes charge over alleged Australia assault
Taylor Swift’s father, Scott Swift, will not face charges following accusations of assaulting a paparazzo in Australia. Ben McDonald, aged 51, claimed to police that Swift, aged 72, struck him in the face on a Sydney wharf on February 27.
However, McDonald did not require medical assistance.
A representative for Swift had previously stated that two individuals were behaving aggressively towards the renowned singer. Following a month-long investigation, New South Wales police announced on Tuesday that no further action would be pursued.
The altercation occurred after Mr. Swift and his daughter disembarked from a yacht, shortly after her final Eras Tour performance in Sydney. Footage released by Australian media depicts the singer, shielded by an umbrella, walking alongside her father and security personnel along Neutral Bay Wharf around 02:30 local time (15:30 GMT).
In the video, camera flashes illuminate the scene as two voices, reportedly belonging to a photographer and a guard, accuse each other of interfering with the umbrellas. The footage, however, does not definitively capture the alleged incident.
Mr McDonald told the BBC Swift was already inside a car when Mr Swift “charged in” and attacked him without provocation.
“I’ve been doing this for 23 years and I haven’t been in a situation where someone’s hit me in the chops,” he said.
However, the singer’s representative said: “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.”
Known as “Papa Swift” by fans of the pop icon, Mr Swift has been accompanying his daughter on her global Eras Tour and left the country shortly after the incident.
