Taylor Swift tells court DJ ‘stayed latched on to my bare ass cheek’
Singer gives evidence against DJ who is suing her for losing him his job at Denver radio station
TAYLOR SWIFT told a court yesterday she was “horrified and shocked” when a radio DJ reached under her skirt and groped her during a meet-and-greet event with fans before a concert.
The Grammy award-winning singersongwriter accused David Mueller, 55, of intentionally grabbing her while they were having a photograph taken alongside Mr Mueller’s girlfriend.
Swift, 27, told the court in Denver, Colorado: “It was a definite grab, a very long grab. It was intentional. He stayed latched on to my bare ass cheek.
“I felt him grab onto my ass cheek under my skirt. He grabbed my ass underneath my skirt.”
She added: “He would not let go. He stayed attached to my bare ass cheek as I lurched away from him. It was horrifying and shocking and I had never experienced anything like it.”
Under questioning from Gabriel Mcfarland, Mr Mueller’s lawyer, she said: “What Mr Mueller did was very intentional. I am critical of your client for sticking his hand under my skirt and grabbing my ass.”
The incident in June 2013 is the subject of a civil case after Mr Mueller sued Swift, her mother Andrea Swift, and other members of her team.
Mr Mueller claims he did nothing inappropriate yet Swift cost him his job at a radio station, KYGO-FM, after complaining to his bosses. He is seeking up to $3 million (£2.3 million) in damages.
Swift has counter-sued, alleging sexual assault and battery, and is asking for a symbolic $1 in damages. She has maintained that she never asked the radio station to fire Mr Mueller.
She told Mr Mcfarland: “I’m not going to allow you or your client to make me feel in any way that this is my fault because it isn’t. I am being blamed for the unfortunate events of his life that are a product of his decisions and not mine. I just never wanted to see him again.” During an hour of giving evidence Swift said it appeared both Mr Mueller and Shannon Melcher, his girlfriend, who stood on the other side of her for the photograph, had “had a few cocktails”.
Asked by Mr Mcfarland if she might be mistaken about the identity of the man who groped her, Swift said: “He had a handful of my ass. I know it was him.” She said her bodyguard had not stepped in because “no one could have expected this to happen. It had never happened before. It was horrifying and shocking”. Swift said Greg Dent, a security guard working for her, had witnessed Mr Mueller “lift my skirt”, but it was impossible for anyone to see his hand go under her skirt because their backs were to a wall as they posed for the photograph.
The musician told the court she said nothing to Mr Mueller or his girlfriend at the time because she did not want to cancel the event and disappoint other waiting fans.
Instead, she thanked him in a monotone voice and moved away.
Mr Mueller had previously told the court the encounter with Swift was “weird and awkward”. He said his hand touched her skirt after he put his arm around her and their arms got crossed.