Taylor Swift’s father, Scott Swift, has been cleared of any charges related to an incident where he was accused of punching a photographer in Australia, as confirmed by the New South Wales Police Force to CBS News.
The altercation took place during Taylor’s visit to Melbourne for her Eras Tour.
The incident occurred at the Neutral Bay Wharf, where veteran paparazzi photographer Ben McDonald was capturing moments of the pop star and her father, who was 71 years old at the time, as reported by the Associated Press.
A representative for Taylor Swift informed CBS News that amidst the chaos, with individuals aggressively approaching Taylor and her team, threatening behavior ensued, including attempts to harm a female staff member.
McDonald recounted his version of events to the police, alleging that he was assaulted during the confrontation.
He described being pushed and having his camera interfered with before being punched on the left side of his face.
Initially, he mistook the assailant for an Australian security personnel trying to impress the American team, only to realize later that it was Taylor’s father, Scott Swift.
Although McDonald reported the incident to the authorities, he sustained no serious injuries, according to AFP reports.
While the identities of those involved were not disclosed by the New South Wales Police Force, they acknowledged investigating a 71-year-old man accused of assaulting a 51-year-old man in the early hours of the morning.
After identifying Scott Swift through an online image, McDonald expressed astonishment at the situation, emphasizing that in his 23-year career, he had never experienced such an altercation, especially involving a celebrity’s parent.
Following the incident, Scott Swift departed Australia, and Taylor Swift also left the country via a private jet after successfully completing seven sold-out stadium concerts.
Supportive fans, who affectionately refer to Taylor’s dad as “Papa Swift,” rallied behind him on social media platforms, standing up for his actions.
The authorities, upon thorough investigation, concluded that no further action would be taken regarding the matter, as stated by CBS News.
