Australian authorities are looking into allegations that Taylor Swift’s father, Scott Swift, assaulted a photographer during an incident at Neutral Bay Wharf in the early hours of Tuesday morning. According to police spokeswoman Alicia McCumstie, the alleged assault occurred around 2:30 a.m. as Swift and her entourage were disembarking a superyacht.
The incident reportedly involved a confrontation between a 71-year-old man, believed to be Scott Swift, and a 51-year-old photographer, Ben McDonald. McDonald claims that Swift punched him after Swift’s security team obstructed his attempts to take photographs of the pop star. McDonald stated that he initially didn’t recognize Swift but later identified him in photos holding hands with Taylor Swift.
In response to the allegations, a spokesperson for Taylor Swift cited aggressive behavior from unidentified individuals towards the singer and her security personnel. The spokesperson did not address the specific allegation against Scott Swift.
Taylor Swift is currently on her Eras Tour, which is anticipated to become the highest-grossing musical tour of all time. She is expected to continue her tour with dates in Singapore later this week.
Authorities have not disclosed whether Scott Swift has been contacted or questioned regarding the incident. Meanwhile, online, fans have rallied behind Scott Swift, with some using the hashtag #FreeScottSwift to express their support.