Representatives for the internationally acclaimed artist Taylor Swift have come forward with a detailed account in response to accusations leveled against her father, Scott Swift, following a contentious encounter with a photographer in Sydney, Australia.
The incident, which has since sparked widespread media attention, occurred at the Neutral Bay Wharf during the early hours, involving a 71-year-old man—later identified as Scott Swift—and a 51-year-old photographer, Ben McDonald.
According to an official statement provided to Page Six by the Swift camp, the situation escalated when "two individuals aggressively pushed their way towards Taylor, grabbing at her security personnel, and threatening to throw a female staff member into the water." The New South Wales police department, having been alerted to the fracas around 2:30 a.m., reported that the altercation did not result in injuries requiring medical attention.
The narrative took a turn as Ben McDonald, CEO of Matrix Media Group, vehemently refuted the claims made by Swift's representatives, labeling them as "utter rubbish." Speaking to the Daily Mail, McDonald contested the presence of any female staff member other than Taylor Swift herself during the incident. He further asserted the existence of recorded footage that purportedly exonerates the photographers from accusations of aggressive behavior.
The incident has led to an official investigation by the North Shore Police Command, as McDonald claims an unexpected and unprovoked confrontation by Scott Swift, whom he initially mistook for a security guard. "In 23 years of taking pictures, I have never seen anything like it," McDonald recounted to the Australian News, expressing his shock over the altercation which he claims was unnecessary given the security team's control over the situation.
Footage of the incident, as described by McDonald, depicts a scene where Taylor Swift and her father, along with a small entourage, are seen navigating through the wharf, using umbrellas to shield themselves from the paparazzi's lenses. The video allegedly captures a moment of commotion, where the movement of the camera and the obstruction by another umbrella blur the details of the confrontation.
Following the incident, McDonald took the step of reporting the matter to the Rocks police station, officially documenting his account of the events. As the police inquiry continues, the incident raises questions about the interactions between celebrities and paparazzi, and the fine line between aggressive intrusion and security measures.