Feb 27, 2024 07:42 AM IST

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Investigation initiated after Scott Swift allegedly assaults paparazzi following Taylor Swift’s Sydney concert

The excitement of Taylor Swift’s successful Sydney concert was marred by troubling news involving her father, Scott Swift. Reports have surfaced, alleging that Scott got into a physical altercation with an Australian paparazzi photographer after the show. The incident, which unfolded on the bustling streets of Sydney, has led authorities to initiate an investigation into potential assault charges. Here’s what happened.

Taylor Swift’s dad Scott Swift faces assault charges in Sydney

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Taylor Swift concluded her Sydney leg of the Era’s tour before heading to Singapore for her next performance. Following the successful wrap-up of the show, Taylor and her father were seen celebrating. However, the NSW Police Force confirmed to Page Six on Monday that they had initiated an investigation after Scott allegedly assaulted 51-year-old Ben McDonald at a ferry wharf in Sydney’s North Shore.

Scott Swift accused of punching a photographer

The incident occurred at 2:30 am on Tuesday morning. According to the Australian photographer involved, Taylor and Scott were seen partying late into the night. The photographer alleges that Scott “charged” at him after both father-daughter duo stepped off their luxury superyacht that evening.

“She got off the boat, she walked towards security guards who were shoving umbrellas in our faces, and then he charged,” MC Donald told Daily Mail. “He probably decided he needed to defend his daughter, for some reason,” he added.

McDonald alleges that Scott struck him on the left side of the face, causing “very sore chops.” He maintains that he didn’t provoke Scott in any manner. The police stated that McDonald, aged 51, did not require medical assistance. It’s been reported that Swift, along with her team and father, celebrated the end of the Australian leg of the Eras Tour on the Harbour. After Tuesday’s gig, they took the luxurious superyacht Quantum from the Homebush concert venue to the harbour.

Taylor Swift was spotted leaving covered in an umbrella

A rep of the Cruel Summer singer told the outlet that, “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.”Pictures captured from the dock depict the 14-time Grammy winner walking under a black umbrella, accompanied by someone by her side, before eventually being approached by the awaiting paparazzi.

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• Taylor Swift
• Investigation
• Us Entertainment

New South Wales police are investigating allegations Taylor Swift’s father assaulted a member of the paparazzi in Sydney, hours after the sold-out Eras Tour wrapped up in Australia.

NSW police have been told that Scott Swift, 71, allegedly assaulted photographer Ben McDonald, 51, at the Neutral Bay wharf around 2.30am on Tuesday.

McDonald told Guardian Australia that Taylor Swift and her entourage were cruising the harbour on a superyacht late at night after completing her final Australian show.

The superstar got off the boat and walked down the wharf, surrounded by security, who McDonald alleges pushed umbrellas into his face and camera.

Once she was in her car, McDonald alleges a man struck him in the face before also getting in the car and driving away.

“I didn’t realise it was her dad at the time,” McDonald said. “It was a bit of a shock but I’ll leave the police to do their job.”

McDonald said he used images he had taken to identify the man as Scott Swift.

He made the allegation to police and inquiries were under way by officers at the North Shore police area command. Police said McDonald did not require medical attention.

No charges have been laid.

A Taylor Swift spokesperson did not respond directly to questions about the allegation against Swift’s father but claimed that two unidentified individuals were “aggressively pushing their way towards Taylor, grabbing at her security personnel, and threatening to throw a female staff member into the water”.

Taylor Swift wrapped up the Australian leg of her Eras Tour in Sydney on Monday night.

She performed to her largest crowd ever at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 16 February, performing two more times in Melbourne and wowing audiences at four shows at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.

An estimated 600,000 people watched her perform over the last two weekends in Australia.

Australian police are investigating Taylor Swift’s father, Scott Swift following an accusation that he assaulted a photographer, while the pop star’s reps say that the man acted “aggressively” and threatened to “throw a female staffer in the water.”

NSW police confirmed to the Sydney Morning Herald that a 51-year-old man reported a 71-year-old man assaulted him at about 2:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday (7:30 a.m. Pacific on Monday) and that “inquires are now underway.”

Ben McDonald, chief executive of Matrix Media Group, told the Herald, “I was just out on the job chasing Taylor. She got off a super-yacht at Neutral Bay and walked up the wharf with an umbrella over her head and a couple of security [guards] around her. Security sort of pushed us around with the umbrellas.”

He added, that Swift’s father, who is 71, “decided to add to the mix and throw a punch in.” He said that the alleged punch to his left cheek was “a shock” because “security had [the situation] under control.”

According to a Swift spokersperson, “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.”

Swift’s father, who’s been nicknamed “Papa Swift” by the pop singer’s fans, has been in Australia in support of the pop singer’s Eras Tour. Monday night, she performed the last of her four sold-out shows at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.

In a video shared by MuchMusic to X on Saturday, Swift gushed that Australian fans made her “feel at home,” News.com.au reported.

“My band, the dancers, you make us feel like we’re at home here, you really do. It’s very rare,” Swift said.

She also told the crowd, “We have had the most wonderful time, I’ve got to tell you that. You are here in one of the most exciting cities in the world, and you chose to hang out with us. Thanks guys!”

The multi-Grammy winner also played three shows at Melbourne’s Cricket Ground.

TheWrap has reached out to Swift’s reps for comment.

The finalists and shortlisted photographers for the Sony World Photography Awards 2024 have been chosen.

Over 395,000 images from more than 220 countries and territories were submitted into the competition, leaving judges with the gruelling task of picking their favourite photographers. Here, we showcase some of the best shots from the Wildlife and Nature finalists and shortlisted entrants.

Finalists and shortlisted photographers

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About Sony World Photography Awards

Produced by the World Photography Organisation, the internationally acclaimed Sony World Photography Awards is one of the most important fixtures in the global photographic calendar. Now in its 17th year, the free-to-enter Awards are a global voice for photography and provide a vital insight into contemporary photography today.

The alleged victim, Ben McDonald, told AFP the man was Swift’s dad, Scott Swift.

Sydney:

Australian police said they were investigating a 71-year-old man for the alleged assault of a photographer in Sydney in the early hours of Tuesday. The accuser identified the man as Taylor Swift’s father. 

“Police have been told a 71-year-old man allegedly assaulted a 51-year-old man at Neutral Bay Wharf about 2:30 am (1530 GMT Monday), before leaving the location,” police spokeswoman Alicia McCumstie told AFP. 

“The younger man reported the incident and inquiries are now under way by officers attached to North Shore Police Area Command.” 

The alleged victim, Ben McDonald, told AFP the man was Swift’s dad, Scott Swift. 

McDonald said he had been photographing the US pop icon on a “super yacht” in Sydney Harbour after the last of her four gigs in the city. 

McDonald alleges Swift’s security put an umbrella in his face to prevent him from taking photographs of Taylor Swift, who was walking down the jetty to a waiting vehicle. 

After Swift departed, McDonald claimed a man confronted him and “he punched me in the chops”. 

“I didn’t know who he was, but I looked at photos and saw him holding hands with Taylor, and it was her dad.” 

“It was a shock. That’s never happened to me in 26 years,” he said. 

Australian police do not usually publicly identify people accused or alleging crimes. 

Taylor Swift is currently in the midst of her worldwide blockbuster Eras Tour. 

She heads to Singapore this week for the next leg of what is expected to be the highest-grossing musical tour of all time at over $1 billion, according to Pollstar. 
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Platon, international award-winning photographer, is known for his portrait photography of world leaders and humanitarian efforts through his nonprofit, The People’s Portfolio. He will host the Maverick Speakers Series at 7:30 p.m. March 5 at Texas Hall.

Mark LaVelle, assistant vice president for university events, said the series started as a gift to the UTA community. They have a variety of speakers from different careers share their thoughts and ideas.

“The idea is to sort of bring in a stimulating conversation that hopefully is of interest and entertaining at the same time,” LaVelle said.

The presentation, “Powerful Portraits,” will feature Platon sharing his photographs and showcasing stories of those who live on either side of privilege in order to break down barriers and highlight our shared humanity, according to UTA’s website.

Tickets for the event are free to staff and students and $5 for outside attendees. They are available on the UTATickets website.

“He’s not just a photographer, he’s very much an advocate for human rights,” LaVelle said. “When he photographs people, it’s not about just getting a good photograph. It’s about looking at the humanity within the person and behind the person.”

Platon is known for his photography of world leaders, including six former American presidents. His work has been featured in Rolling Stone, The New York Times Magazine, Vanity Fair, Esquire, GQ, British Vogue and The Sunday Times Magazine. He has also produced over 20 covers for TIME magazine, according to UTA’s website.

In 2013, Platon founded The People’s Portfolio, a foundation seeking to create visual languages that break barriers, expand dignity, fight discrimination and enlist the public to support human rights worldwide.

UTA student leaders, staff and surveys recommend speakers for the series to LaVelle’s team. He said the group then presents to a committee that decides who they want to reach out to.

“Education goes on every day for the rest of your life,” LaVelle said. “So it’s a way of presenting educational opportunities to people at every stage of their life.”

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