SWIFT ‘JAB’
Moment Taylor Swift’s dad Scott clashes with photographer as he’s accused of punching him after stepping off superyacht
The alleged assault happened after the star's final show of the Australian leg of her tour
TAYLOR Swift's dad is said to have clashed with a photographer as he was stepping off a superyacht with his daughter.
Cops are investigating allegations of assault against Scott Swift, 71, that happened at Neutral Bay Wharf in Sydney after the singer's last night of the Eras Tour in Australia.
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Chief executive of Matrix Media Group Ben McDonald, 51, told police that Swift punched him in the face hours after the concert as the singer was returning to her hotel.
The veteran paparazzo said he decided to report the attack to police despite not being seriously injured.
He said: "It was just a punch in the chops. Its a little tender, but I dont have any bruising and it didnt require medical assistance."
"In 23 years, I haven't been assaulted and punched in the chops, particularly by the talents' dad," he added.
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Meanwhile, the star's representative released a statement accusing members of the media of aggression during the interaction.
It read: "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."
The New South Wale Police Force media office confirmed that police were investigating the alleged assault of a 51-year-old man by a 71-year-old man at 2:30 a.m.
Taylor Swift left the country on a private jet Tuesday, after more than 600,000 fans saw the Australian leg of her Eras Tour at seven Australian stadium concerts.
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McDonald said media had been waiting to photograph the star as she walked with her entourage from a jetty to two waiting cars.
He said: "There were about four or five security there and at one point, one of the American security started shoving his umbrella into me and my camera and then Taylor got in her car.
"Someone else came running at me and punched me in the left side of my face.
"Initially, I thought it was an Australian security that was trying to be the hero of the moment in the front of the Americans, but as it turned out it was her father."
McDonald said he realized that his alleged assailant was not a part of the security detail after seeing a photo of him holding Swifts' hand while reviewing photos from the evening.
He later identified Scott Swift from an online picture.
He added: "We didnt go rushing down the jetty. We didnt go rushing to the back of the boat. We waited for her to come up. Kept it very civil.
"But no, they had to be (expletives) and put the umbrellas up and umbrellas over her and then shove the umbrellas into our faces and then make out that were the ones making contact with them" he added.
Taylor's dad, known among her fans as "Papa Swift", as he often hands out sandwiches, fruit, guitar picks and VIP passes to young members of his daughter's audiences.
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After a career as a financial adviser, Scott Swift is now a regular at his daughter's gigs and public appearances -- including this month's Super Bowl in Las Vegas.
Taylor Swift is currently on her blockbuster worldwide Eras Tour, and has now left Australia for Singapore, where she will play to more than 300,000 fans during six sold-out dates at the National Stadium.
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