Taylor Swift's dad, Scott Swift, has been accused of assaulting a photographer in Australia on February 27, 2024. After her Eras Tour show, Taylor Swift and her dad were reportedly leaving a superyacht in Neutral Bay Wharf in Sydney when Taylor was approached by photographers. The photographer, 51-year-old Ben McDonald, alleges that Scott hit his face. "In 23 years, I haven't been assaulted and punched in the chops, particularly by the talent's dad," he told the Associated Press.
Page Six also reported that Nicole Kidman was previously granted a restraining order against Ben.
Page Six reported that in 2005, Nicole was granted a restraining order against Ben McDonald and another photographer after an electronic listening device was found where she was living, reports People.
In 2005, People reported that Ben and the other photographer made Nicole afraid to leave her home. At the time, she said she was "a virtual prisoner in her Sydney home and feared for her safety because of them," per People.
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Ben and the other photographer could not go within 60 feet of Nicole's residence and could not go up to her after she was granted the restraining order against them.
Although Ben claimed that he was being "very civil" when approaching Taylor Swift, one of Taylor's representatives told Business Insider that Ben approached the pop singer "aggressively."
"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 statement shared with Business Insider claimed.
Ben called the statement "utter rubbish" when speaking to Daily Mail Australia. He claims that the incident was captured and videos of the interaction do not show him being aggressive.
The photographer claims he doesn't know why Scott assaulted him. He initially thought it was a security guard. The incident is being investigated by the New South Wales Police Force, AP reported.
Ben alleges that Taylor's security team used umbrellas to block the photographers.
"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 we’re the ones making contact with them,” he told AP.
Ben did not need medical treatment after the alleged assault.
