No charges for 'Papa Swift' in Australia after alleged Eras altercation

US singer-songwriter Taylor Swift arrives for the 66th Annual Grammy Awards at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on February 4, 2024.
AFP / Robyn Beck

MANILA, Philippines — 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 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.

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

Related: Australian police investigating Taylor Swift's dad for alleged assault

"He punched me in the chops," McDonald said 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 "conducted an investigation following a report of an assault."

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

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