Scott Swift, father of singer Taylor Swift, will not face charges after an alleged assault on an Australian photographer after a show in Sydney during the Eras Tour. The incident occurred in the early hours of February 27, 2024, with an investigation being launched by New South Wales Police Force. Scott was accused of attacking a man named Ben McDonald at a ferry wharf, but no further action was taken by authorities.
McDonald claimed that the altercation was unprovoked, with Scott allegedly charging at him as they were leaving a yacht. However, Swift’s representative stated that there were individuals aggressively pushing towards Taylor and threatening her security personnel. In an audio clip, Scott and a security guard can be heard telling McDonald not to touch the umbrella Taylor was using to shield herself from the cameras. Photos from the night showed Scott holding his daughter’s hand during the incident.
Scott had been accompanying Taylor on her Eras Tour and had been admired by fans for handing out sandwiches at a concert days before the alleged altercation. In a TikTok video, he was seen offering food to fans at Accor Stadium in Australia. Taylor had recently taken a break in the Bahamas with Kelce after a weekend in Los Angeles, following a pause in her tour schedule.
The incident involving Scott and the photographer took place after Taylor’s last show in Australia. The North Shore Police Command had launched an investigation into the alleged assault, but ultimately no charges were brought against Swift. Despite the allegations made by McDonald, Scott and Taylor’s security team maintained that they were trying to protect the singer from aggressive individuals trying to get too close.
While Scott had faced accusations of assault following the incident with the photographer, he had previously been praised by fans for his interaction during the Eras Tour. He had been seen handing out sandwiches to fans at a concert, which captured attention on social media. Taylor had been taking some time off with her partner Kelce after the incident, with the singer enjoying a holiday break in the Bahamas following the conclusion of her Australian shows.
