Taylor Swift's father won't face charges after alleged altercation with photographer in Australia

Lauren Huff
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71-year-old Scott Swift is in the clear as authorities say there will be "no further police action."

Taylor Swift's father, Scott Swift, will not face charges after an alleged altercation with a paparazzo in Australia last month.

A spokesperson for the New South Wales Police Force told Entertainment Weekly on Tuesday that authorities had "conducted an investigation following a report of an assault at Neutral Bay Wharf" on Feb. 27, and that "no further police action" would be taken.

A representative for Taylor Swift didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

The pop superstar, 34, and her father, 71, were on Sydney's North Shore the night of the incident, after she had performed a sold-out four-show stint on her Eras Tour. Police said at the time that they had "been told a 71-year-old man allegedly assaulted a 51-year-old man" at the wharf around 2:30 a.m. The younger man reported the incident and did not require medical treatment.

<p>Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty; Kevin Mazur/AMA2019/Getty</p> Taylor Swift and Scott Swift

Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty; Kevin Mazur/AMA2019/Getty

Taylor Swift and Scott Swift

A report in the Daily Mail identified the 51-year-old man as photographer Ben McDonald, who told the outlet that Scott charged at him after getting off a boat. "[Taylor] got off the boat, she walked towards security guards who were shoving umbrellas in our faces, and then he charged," McDonald said. That report added that McDonald "originally thought it was a security guard and was shocked when he realised the alleged attacker was the pop star's dad."

A representative for Taylor had a different version of events, telling EW, "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."

Scott has been a frequent fixture on his daughter's massive world tour. Fan videos have captured him handing out guitar picks and snacks to attendees.

After the shows in Sydney, the Swifts headed to Singapore, where Taylor played a six-night stint. The 14-time Grammy winner is currently on a hiatus as she awaits the April 19 release of her 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, before she (and presumably her dad) head back on the road for the Eras Tour's European dates, which kick off in Paris on May 9.

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