Australian authorities are looking into a claim by a paparazzo who alleges he was assaulted by Taylor Swift’s father, Scott Swift, 71, on a wharf in Sydney. Ben McDonald, 51, accused Swift of hitting his face after Swift and his daughter disembarked a boat and were met by photographers. The alleged incident occurred shortly after midnight on Tuesday.
Mr. McDonald did not require medical attention, according to the police. Mr. Swift has not commented publicly on the matter.
A video released by Australian media shows the singer, concealed under an umbrella, walking with her father and security personnel along Neutral Bay Wharf around 2:30 a.m. local time (15:30 GMT Monday). Cameras flash before two voices, believed to be a photographer and a guard, are heard accusing each other of touching umbrellas. It is unclear if the video captured the alleged assault.
Taylor Swift had just concluded her immensely successful Eras tour with another sold-out performance in Australia.
“The younger man reported the incident and inquiries are now under way by officers attached to North Shore Police Area Command,” the New South Wales Police said in a statement.