Taylor Swift's Dad Allegedly Punched Paparazzo In Sydney, Police Investigating

Taylor Swift’s father, Scott Swift (also known as Papa Swift), is being investigated by police after allegedly punching a paparazzi photographer in the face in Sydney.

#BREAKING 🚨 Taylor Swift's father being investigated by police for allegedly assaulting paparazzi in Sydney | #6NewsAU

— 6 News Australia (@6NewsAU) February 26, 2024

According to a new report from the ABC, paparazzi photographer Ben McDonald from Matrix Media was following the Bejeweled singer while she was in Australia.

McDonald stated that after Swift’s final show in Sydney yesterday (26 February), she was celebrating the ultra-successful Australian leg of the Eras Tour with a cruise on Sydney Harbour before she and her entourage left Neutral Bay Wharf early this morning.

As she was exiting, McDonald commented on Swift’s security personnel pushing umbrellas into his camera and face before Scott Swift entered the picture.

McDonald claimed, “He's charged in and punched me in the face”. When the alleged altercation occurred, Taylor Swift was reportedly already in a car, ready to leave.

While McDonald’s injuries aren’t too severe and he “did not require medical treatment”, NSW Police are investigating the alleged incident.

A spokesperson for NSW Police said in a statement via ABC: “Police have been told a 71-year-old man allegedly assaulted a 51-year-old man at Neutral Bay Wharf about 2:30 am, before leaving the location.

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

Responding to the alleged incident, representatives for Taylor Swift said in a statement (via Rolling Stone), “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.”

McDonald called the response “utter rubbish”.

This is a developing story.

Taylor Swift wrapped up the Australian dates on the Eras Tour yesterday. She ended up playing seven shows down under – four at Sydney’s Accor Stadium and Melbourne’s MCG – and stunned audiences with her stamina, setlists, and singing.

Reviewing Swift’s first show at the MCG for The Music, Christopher Lewis wrote, “The Eras Tour is, first and foremost, Taylor Swift’s victory lap. But at three and a half hours long, it’s a victory marathon. She’s TIME Magazine’s Person of the Year and sits pretty, perched on top of the world, so you best believe she’s now bejewelled, and when she walks in the room, she does make the whole place shimmer.”