SYDNEY – Australian police are investigating claims that Taylor Swift’s father – nicknamed “Papa Swift” by her adoring fans – punched a photographer while disembarking a super yacht in the early hours of Feb 27.

“Police have been told a 71-year-old man allegedly assaulted a 51-year-old man at Neutral Bay Wharf at about 2.30am, before leaving the location,” police spokeswoman Alicia McCumstie told AFP.

Australian police do not usually formally identify suspects.

However, the alleged victim – veteran photographer Ben McDonald – and a law enforcement source both identified the man accused as Swift’s father, Scott.

Mr McDonald said he had been taking pictures of the American pop star and her entourage on a luxury super yacht in Sydney Harbour, an apparent late-night celebration after the last of her four sell-out gigs in the city.

He alleges that her security put an umbrella in his face to prevent him from taking photographs as Swift and the group disembarked and walked down the jetty to a waiting vehicle.

He also claimed an older man confronted him and “took it further” after Swift departed.

“He punched me in the chops”, Mr McDonald told AFP. “It was a shock. That’s never happened to me in 26 years.”

“I didn’t know who he was,” the photographer said, adding that he initially believed it may have been an overzealous local security contractor “trying to impress the Americans”.

“But I looked at photos and saw him holding hands with Taylor, and it was her dad,” he said.

The police later said Mr Swift “has left the country”, but said inquiries were continuing.

A spokesperson for Taylor Swift did not comment directly on Mr Swift’s role in the incident.

However, the representative made counter-allegations of pushing and aggression by unidentified people at the waterside.

“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,” the spokesperson told AFP.

No further details of the incident were offered.

Swift is on her blockbuster worldwide Eras Tour, which is expected to be the highest-grossing musical tour at more than US$1 billion (S$1.34 billion), according to Pollstar.

She has left Australia for Singapore, where she will play to more than 300,000 fans during six sold-out dates at the National Stadium.

Online, Swift fans rushed to her father’s defence.

“Free Scott Swift,” posted social media user @Soyytv.

Papa Swift, as he is affectionately known, has become a fan favourite, handing out sandwiches, fruit, guitar picks and VIP passes to young members of his daughter’s audiences.

After a career as a financial adviser, he is now a regular at his daughter’s gigs and public appearances – including February’s Super Bowl in Las Vegas. AFP