Taylor Swift’s father Scott Swift accused of assaulting photographer

Australian police are investigating an allegation by a paparazzo that he was assaulted by Taylor Swift’s father.

Ben McDonald, 51, accused Scott Swift, 71, of striking his face on a Sydney wharf. He did not need medical help.

The confrontation happened on Tuesday after Mr Swift and the pop megastar disembarked from a yacht.

A spokesperson for the singer did not address the assault claim but said two people had behaved aggressively towards them.

A video published by Australian media shows the singer, who is concealed beneath an umbrella, walking with her father and security guards along Neutral Bay Wharf about 02:30 local time (15:30 GMT Monday).

Cameras flash before two voices – reported to be a photographer and a guard – accuse each other of touching umbrellas. It is unclear whether the footage captures the alleged incident.

Mr McDonald told the BBC the singer had already entered a car when Mr Swift “charged in” and attacked him.

“I’ve been doing this for 23 years and I haven’t been in a situation where someone’s hit me in the chops,” he said, adding he had not provoked the incident.

The singer’s representative said: “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.”

Swift had just performed the final Australian concert in her immensely popular Eras tour.