No charges for Taylor Swift’s dad after alleged Eras altercation

Australian police on Tuesday said no action would be taken against Taylor Swift’s father – nicknamed “Papa Swift” by her adoring fans – for allegedly punching a photographer while disembarking a Sydney superyacht during her Eras tour.

Veteran photographer Ben McDonald claimed in late February that he had been taking pictures of the US pop star and her entourage during a late-night celebration at the end of her four sell-out gigs in the city.

McDonald alleged Swift’s security detail put an umbrella in his face to prevent photographs as the group disembarked and walked down the jetty to a waiting vehicle.

AUSTRALIAN POLICE WERE TIGHT-LIPPED

He also claimed an older man, later identified as Scott Swift, confronted him and “took it further”.

“He punched me in the chops,” McDonald told AFP at the time.

“It was a shock. That’s never happened to me in 26 years.”

McDonald lodged a complaint with police but Scott Swift left the country soon after, as the tour moved on to Singapore.

Australian police have since been tight-lipped about their investigation.

On Tuesday, they issued a terse statement to say officers had “investigated a report of an assault”.

“No further police action” will be taken, they added, without offering details of what the investigation found.

By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse