Europe1.fr with AFP 9:22 a.m., February 27, 2024

An investigation into Taylor Swift's father was opened Tuesday in Australia after a complaint of assault.

A photographer accuses the father of the world star of having "hit him in the ribs" while he was taking photos of the singer on a yacht in Sydney after her Australian tour. 

An investigation was opened Tuesday in Australia after a complaint from a photographer claiming to have been assaulted by the father of American singer Taylor Swift.

"Police were informed that a 71-year-old man was accused of assaulting a 51-year-old man at Neutral Bay Wharf," a ferry terminal in Sydney's north, "before leaving the scene," it said. Alicia McCumstie, a police spokeswoman.

“The younger man reported the incident and the investigation is ongoing,” she added.

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In Australia, police do not usually release the identities of people under investigation.

But a police source and the alleged victim, photographer Ben McDonald, both said it was the pop star's father, Scott Swift.

“Hit in the ribs”

Mr McDonald said he was taking photos of Taylor Swift on a yacht from Sydney Harbor after her tour of the city when, he said, members of the singer's security held up an umbrella in front of him. him in order to prevent him from continuing while the singer went down to the pier to join a vehicle.

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After his departure, the photographer claimed to have been “hit in the ribs” by a man.

“I didn’t know who he was but I looked at the photos and I saw him holding Taylor’s hands and it was her dad,” he continued.

“It was a shock, this had never happened to me in 26 years,” he added.

Australian police then announced that Scott Swift had "left the country" but that the investigation was continuing.

Support from Taylor Swift fans

A spokesperson for Taylor Swift responded to the allegation by saying there had been shoving and aggressive behavior by unidentified people on the waterfront. "Two individuals were aggressively approaching Taylor , grabbed his security personnel and threatened to throw an employee into the water,” the spokesperson said.

However, he did not comment on the alleged attack on the star's father, nor responded to requests for clarification on the facts.

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The megastar is currently in the middle of his "Eras Tour" world tour, which is expected to bring in a total of two billion dollars in revenue after having already broken the symbolic ceiling of the billion collected last year, a first in the history of the music.

Taylor Swift has left Australia for Singapore where she is due to arrive Tuesday afternoon for six more dates on the tour.

Police declined to say whether Scott Swift was contacted or questioned before the group left.

On social networks, the singer's fans were quick to show their support for the man some call "Papa Swift".

“Free Scott Swift,” one exclaimed on X.