Scott Swift, father of renowned pop star Taylor Swift, is facing accusations of assaulting an Australian photographer during the early hours of Tuesday morning in Sydney. The incident reportedly occurred at Neutral Bay Wharf around 2:30 am local time.
According to a spokesperson from the New South Wales Police, a 71-year-old man, identified as Scott Swift, allegedly assaulted a 51-year-old Australian photographer, Ben McDonald, before departing from the location. Fortunately, McDonald did not sustain any serious injuries and did not require medical attention following the altercation.
Reports suggest that the altercation occurred after Taylor Swift and her father had been enjoying festivities aboard a super yacht named Quantum, following the conclusion of one of Taylor’s performances. Upon docking, Scott Swift allegedly noticed McDonald taking photographs and swiftly approached him.
McDonald, recounting the incident to the media, expressed his astonishment upon realizing that the individual confronting him was Taylor Swift’s father, whom fans affectionately refer to as “Papa Swift.” Describing the encounter, McDonald stated, “In 23 years, I have never seen anything like it.”
While McDonald admitted to being uncertain about the motive behind Scott Swift’s actions, he speculated that the elder Swift may have felt compelled to defend his daughter for reasons unknown to him. McDonald revealed that he sustained discomfort on the left side of his face following the altercation, describing it as “very sore chops.”
Notably, photographs captured around the time of the alleged assault depict Taylor Swift and her father leaving the dock under a black umbrella, with the singer shielded from view. In response to the incident, a spokesperson for Taylor Swift asserted that two individuals had been aggressively approaching the singer, grabbing at security personnel, and even threatening a female staff member with being thrown into the water.
Scott Swift has been actively involved in his daughter’s Australian tour, with sightings of him engaging with fans by distributing sandwiches and posing for selfies with celebrities such as Rebel Wilson. The unfolding events have sparked public interest and raised questions about the boundaries between celebrity and personal security.