Police said they were investigating an alleged assault involving a 71-year-old man and another man on Neutral Bay wharf at about 2.30am on Tuesday. Police did not name Swift’s father, Scott, who is 71 years of age.
I didn’t know who he was, but I looked at photos and saw him holding hands with Taylor
Local media reported that the complainant was an Australian photographer who was waiting for Taylor Swift and her father as they arrived at the Neutral Bay wharf following a late-night cruise on Sydney Harbour.
Taylor Swift was with her father at the time, but had entered a car when the alleged assault occurred, according to state broadcaster ABC.
A spokesperson for Taylor Swift told Rolling Stone two people were acting “aggressively” towards Swift and her entourage when the incident occurred.
‘Swift effect’ hits Singapore with hotels, flights booked out
‘Swift effect’ hits Singapore with hotels, flights booked out
“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,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
The photographer, Ben McDonald, said Swift’s entourage used umbrellas to try and prevent him taking photographs and in the alleged altercation Swift’s father became involved.
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.
He alleges that Swift’s security put an umbrella in his face to prevent him from taking photographs of the singer, who was walking down the jetty to a waiting vehicle.
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Chinese fans turn cinema into celebration watching Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour film
Chinese fans turn cinema into celebration watching Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour film
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.
Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse
