An “assault investigation” was opened and concluded without “any further police action” being necessary, police said in a statement.
“Hit in the ribs”
The complainant, a 71-year-old photographer, claimed to have been "hit in the ribs" by Scott Swift near a Sydney pontoon where the star had disembarked from a yacht. Scott Swift was able to leave Australia.
The alleged incident occurred after the singer had just performed four sold-out concerts in Australia as part of her "Eras Tour" world tour.
The news created a shock wave across the world. Friday March 22, after several months of absence, Kate Middleton announced through an Instagram video that she had cancer and had started “preventative” treatment with chemotherapy. “It took us a while to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis. [...] As I told them, I'm doing well, and I'm getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal,” she confided with emotion. A moving speech that the Princess of Wales would have imagined herself.
“SHE WANTED TO DECIDE WHEN THE TIME WAS RIGHT”
“She wrote every word herself,” said a palace source, relayed by “People” magazine this Sunday, March 24. “She said them personally and wanted to decide when the time was right to announce this news to the whole world. » A decision supported by her husband, Prince William, her unshakeable pillar. According to the royal source of “People”, the Prince of Wales would be “extremely proud of his wife for the courage and strength she has shown not only this week, but also since her operation in January”.
A few hours after the announcement of Kate Middleton's cancer, King Charles III also said he was “proud” of his daughter-in-law. “Her Majesty is very proud of Catherine for the courage she showed in speaking as she did,” said a Buckingham Palace spokesperson.
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Taylor Swift and her boyfriend Travis Kelce's luxury hotel in the Bahamas reportedly costs $15,000 per night.
The singer and footballer have been dating since last summer and were spotted this week kissing in the waters of Harbor Island, where they are staying at Rosalita House while they take a break from their busy schedules .
It is a sumptuous oceanside mansion where Kylie Jenner has already stayed in 2020 and which can accommodate a dozen people in six bedrooms. It is also equipped with a swimming pool, terraces, gardens and a gym.
The villa's website reads: "Rosalita is a stunning palatial beachfront villa on Harbor Island, a paradise strip of beach northeast of Eleuthera, where cars are banned and the sand is pink ."
It's protected by a 25-foot-high dune that the hotel says offers guests "complete privacy."
The accommodations also have a personal chef and sous chef, a house manager, three butlers, three housekeepers, three gardeners, housekeeping staff, beach and private security service.
Men Ratiee, 23, a communications student in Bangkok, first heard about Taylor Swift on TV news in 2014, when her concert in Thailand was canceled following a coup.
Men Ratiee from Thailand, fan of Taylor Swift, during a photo shoot in Singapore, March 7, 2024 / © AFP
His favorite song is "Shake It Off" (2014), because it makes him feel better.
“She is a source of inspiration. I learn English thanks to her songs. I sing them,” he explains. “She inspires me because she is a good person. Her life is so incredible.”
“She’s not afraid of anything”
Mona He got her first smartphone at the age of 15 and the first song she downloaded was "You Belong With Me" (2008).
Mona He, from China, fan of Taylor Swift, during a photo shoot in Singapore, March 7, 2024 / © AFP
Now aged 24, she confides that attending the singer's concert has been her dream for nine years.
“I admire her because she is not afraid of anything,” confides the young woman who runs a company in China. “Even though she has enemies, she never, ever gives up.”
"Be yourself !"
What Renzo Gonzales, 26, likes is Swift's message that people should be themselves.
Renzo Gonzales, from the Philippines, fan of Taylor Swift, during a photo shoot in Singapore, March 7, 2024 / © AFP
“It doesn’t matter if you face a lot of uncertainty, you just have to be who you are and be happy,” says Renzo Gonzales, originally from the Philippines and working on an oil tanker.
Taylor Swift became her role model because "you don't have to be like what everyone tells you to be, you can be yourself."
His favorite song: “Daylight” (2019) because it taught him that “love can be a rainbow”.
On the eve of the final concert, AFP gave the floor to six “Swifties”. These die-hard fans of the pop star explain what the icon - whose words could count in November's presidential election - means to them.
"Therapist"
Searle Lira, 33, became a fan of Taylor Swift in high school with the song "Teardrops on My Guitar" (2006).
Searle Lina, from the Philippines, fan of American singer Taylor Swift, during a photo shoot in Singapore, March 7, 2024 / © AFP
It helped her overcome her own heartbreak.
“I have the impression that she’s the girls’ free therapist,” notes this independent journalist from the Philippines.
“For every thing girls go through, you can find a Taylor Swift song to relate to.”
“Love me as you should”
Lauren Fang, 23, first listened to Taylor Swift while she was in the hospital for treatment for lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease.
Lauren Fang from Taiwan, Taylor Swift fan, during a photo shoot in Singapore, March 7, 2024 / © AFP
A human resources specialist in Taiwan, she was 18 at the time and says her idol's songs helped her recover.
His favorite song? “Back to December” (2010), which evokes the regrets of having left someone.
She transformed the words to relate them to herself: “If I can live again, I swear that I will love myself as I should”.
“The song taught me that if I can rebuild my life, I will live my own life correctly,” she adds.
“Humble and kind”
Sarah Lui, 21, discovered Taylor Swift in elementary school and has never stopped listening to her since then.
Sarah Lui from Hong Kong, Taylor Swift fan, during a photo shoot in Singapore, March 7, 2024 / © AFP
“I will always be a Swiftie even if I become a lawyer,” maintains the young woman, who is completing a cycle in criminology in Hong Kong and is going to study law.
What she admires most about the singer is her “kindness”.
"She's been so good to her team, to her fans and to everyone. She's humble and kind, that's how everyone should be," she explains.
"She's a superstar, but she's never been arrogant because of her fame. She uses her fame for good."
(to be continued)
“Therapist”
Searle Lira, 33, became a fan of Taylor Swift in high school with the song Teardrops on My Guitar (2006). It helped her overcome her own heartbreak. “I have the impression that she’s the girls’ free therapist,” notes this independent journalist from the Philippines. “For every thing girls go through, you can find a Taylor Swift song to relate to. »
“Love me as you should”
Lauren Fang, 23, first listened to Taylor Swift while she was in the hospital for treatment for lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease. A human resources specialist in Taiwan, she was 18 at the time and says her idol's songs helped her recover. His favorite song? Back to December (2010), which evokes the regrets of having left someone. She transformed the words to relate them to herself: “If I can live again, I swear that I will love myself as I should. » “The song taught me that if I can rebuild my life, I will live my own life correctly,” she adds.
“Humble and kind”
Sarah Lui, 21, discovered Taylor Swift in elementary school and has never stopped listening to her since then. “I will always be a Swiftie even if I become a lawyer,” maintains the young woman, who is completing a cycle in criminology in Hong Kong and is going to study law. What she admires most about the singer is her “kindness”. “She was so good to her team, her fans and everyone. “She’s humble and kind, that’s how everyone should be,” she explains. “She’s a superstar, but she’s never been arrogant because of her fame. She uses her fame to do good. »
“She’s not afraid of anything”
Mona He got her first smartphone at the age of 15 and the first song she downloaded was You Belong With Me (2008). Now aged 24, she confides that attending the singer's concert has been her dream for nine years. “I admire her because she is not afraid of anything,” confides the young woman who runs a company in China. “Even though she has enemies, she never, ever gives up. »
" Be yourself ! »
What Renzo Gonzales, 26, likes is Swift's message that people should be themselves. “It doesn’t matter if you face a lot of uncertainty, you just have to be who you are and be happy,” says Renzo Gonzales, originally from the Philippines and working on an oil tanker. Taylor Swift became her role model because “you don’t have to be like what everyone tells you to be, you can be yourself.” His favorite song: Daylight (2019) because it taught him that “love can be a rainbow”.
In Australia and Canada, authorities have called for vigilance. At least 273 people have been victims of scammers in Australia, while in Canada, victims were approached on Facebook Marketplace, only to have their accounts blocked by the scammers.
Sponsored scams on Instagram
Other scammers try another, less sophisticated approach. On Instagram, it only took us a few clicks to let the algorithm think we were interested in buying concert tickets. Quickly, we were targeted by advertisements proclaiming that Ticketmaster was selling tickets at knockdown prices, at 1.95 euros or 2 euros per ticket, when official tickets were sold for between 70 and 245 euros. For VIP packs, prices soar up to 845 euros, according to our colleagues at PureCharts.
These advertisements referred to a false lottery aimed at obtaining the personal contact details of Internet users. A search in the Meta ad library shows that around thirty targeted advertisements were broadcast over two weeks on Instagram and Facebook.
These advertisements do not come from Ticketmaster. They also contravene Meta's rules, explains a representative of the American giant, without explaining to us how they were able to slip through the cracks of moderation.
Buying on resale sites, a risky strategy
To get tickets, other fans go through well-established resale sites, where prices skyrocket, while in France, the law prohibits the resale of a ticket at a price higher than the original price. 'purchase. The Stubhub site is particularly popular with Swifties. If you are refused access to the concert, it guarantees either to find you another place at the time of the concert, or to reimburse you. A good option if you are given a counterfeit note? Please note, you must take the time to read the reimbursement conditions. These stipulate that you must provide proof that you have been refused access to the performance hall.
Furthermore, Ticketmaster tells us that “the resale of a ticket through unauthorized points of sale renders it invalid and may result in refusal of entry”. So at your own risk.
So how can you be sure you're buying a valid ticket? In Australia, the authorities responsible for the fight against fraud advise only going through official resellers. If you come into contact with a seller through social networks, it is possible that the scammer has taken possession of an authentic account, making the buyer believe that he is chatting with a trusted person, warn these same authorities.
As for the many, many Swifties who were unable to get a place, they will be able to do a catch-up session while watching the concert at home. An extended version of The Eras Tour will be available from March 15 on Disney+. And, no, this time it's not a hoax.
TESTIMONIALS Scammers are selling fake tickets for Taylor Swift's concerts in May and June in Paris and Lyon, taking advantage of the high demand for this sold-out tour. “20 Minutes” collected testimonies from victims
She sent me all the proof, she was super nice, she spoke to me like I was a friend. » Amélie had no reason to be suspicious of this young woman who offered her two tickets to see Taylor Swift in concert in Paris. However, this stranger will succeed in extracting 350 euros from him with a particularly sophisticated scam.
“I made a message on Twitter to say that I was looking for tickets for the Eras Tour, Amélie tells. A girl contacted me, we talked a lot about how we were going to proceed. » Because to avoid fraud – tempting for scammers because thousands of people were unable to get a place – Ticketmaster, the only operator authorized to sell tickets for this record-breaking tour, has deployed great resources. Tickets are electronic, nominative and linked to a Ticketmaster account. Moreover, they have still not been sent to their lucky recipients, who will only receive them a few days before the six dates planned in France, from May 9 to 12 at Paris La Défense Arena and June 2 and 3 at Groupama Stadium in Lyon.
“Everything was very clean”
So, the Swifties, Taylor Swift fans, got organized. Those who want to resell their place give access to their Ticketmaster account, so that the buyer can retrieve the proof of purchase and then the place. Well informed, the scammer Amélie was the victim of made her believe that she was giving him access to her account. “She knew very well that the PDF places were not yet published and that she had to give me her account,” remembers Amélie. I asked for a lot of proof: she sent me the purchase confirmation, the email…” Cautiously, the young woman confides that she “already purchased on Ticketmaster. So I know what it looks like. » The crook “actually had everything!” », says Amélie, who wonders: “Did she take them from someone else? Did she really have places and wanted to scam? In any case, everything was very clean. »
Gaining confidence, Amélie makes two payments to the young woman, via her Paylib account and that of her boyfriend. Total amount: 350 euros.
“And then she said to me: “Thank you, so cool, don’t worry, I’m not going to scam you, I’ll send you proof of payment.”
(to be continued)
Before star Taylor Swift's concerts in Paris and Lyon in the spring, hotel reservations and rentals are up sharply.
American star Taylor Swift is coming to France for six concert dates next spring, in Paris (May 9 to 12) and Lyon (June 2 and 3). And the enthusiasm of his fans is so strong that his arrival boosts tourism in France, as shown by figures revealed exclusively by RMC.
First of all, 64% of hotel rooms in Lyon are already booked on June 2 and 3, while the rest of the month is around 20 to 30% according to the research firm MKG.
“We are already fully booked for these two nights,” rejoices a hotelier, marked by reservations made very early, from October or November, with RMC.
It’s the same with AirBnbs. Compared to 2023, there are 25% more nights booked in Paris during Taylor Swift's visit, according to AIRDNA analyses. But it is even more spectacular in Lyon, with a 282% increase in overnight stays compared to last year.
CHEAPER IN FRANCE THAN IN THE UNITED STATES
As for the fans, many say they will stay a few days to visit Lyon or Paris. And even one or two weeks for the many American fans. Many decided to come see their idol's concerts in France instead of the United States, where tickets could reach 3,500 euros!
Those with whom RMC spoke have planned a whole program: museum, restaurant, cruise, visit to the Eiffel Tower or Disneyland... "I'm coming with my whole family and my five-year-old son who is going to see Taylor Swift for the first time times", says a mother.
Others plan to follow her to several countries. A hell of a budget, but “when you love, you don’t count,” concludes one of them.
(the continuation of the post from here)
4. Donald Trump is worried
On February 11, the Republican candidate mentioned Taylor Swift on his own social network, Truth. With the verve of which he has the secret, the former American president practically demanded the support of the singer, with an aplomb which seems to betray a lack of serenity:
“I signed and initiated the Music Modernization Act, which benefits Taylor Swift and every other musical artist,” he wrote. “Joe Biden has never done anything for Taylor, and he will never do anything for her.”
“There is no way she supports this crook Joe Biden, the worst and most corrupt president in the history of our country, and is thus disloyal to the man who allowed her to make so much money ", he continued. “Besides, I like her boyfriend, Travis (Kelce, American football star, Editor’s note), even if he’s a liberal who probably hates me!”
A message which is undoubtedly not unrelated to Taylor Swift's violent criticism of the Republican candidate. In 2020, the singer supported Joe Biden's candidacy by vilifying Donald Trump on Twitter:
“You have fanned the flames of white supremacism and racism throughout your mandate,” she wrote to the man who was then president. “We will vote you out in November.”
5. Conspiracy theorists see her as a threat
Another sign that Taylor Swift will be at the heart of the 2024 presidential election: the panic of conspiracy circles towards her, who see in her a pawn of the Pentagon to get Joe Biden re-elected.
Jesse Watters, presenter of the favorite channel of American conservatives, Fox News, took up these wild theories in early January, first published on social networks by right-wing commentators, insinuating that the superstar would work for the government of the outgoing president.
“Not only is Swift, by her OWN ADMISSION, a satanic witch, she is also a TOOL OF THE PENTAGON to influence the vote of THOUSANDS of young voters,” an account promoting QAnon conspiracy theories about X recently posted.
In addition, some voices have been raised to suggest that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce would form a couple created from scratch with the sole aim of influencing public opinion in favor of Joe Biden. Notably that of Vivek Ramaswamy, candidate who withdrew from the race in the Republican primary in favor of Donald Trump; At the end of January, he pointed the finger at X (ex-Twitter) "a couple artificially supported by culture" which, according to him, will reveal "major presidential support".
If the United States seems to have acquired the idea that the American presidential election will not be held without Taylor Swift, the European Union is starting to take notes. In January, European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas expressed his hope that the superstar would mobilize young voters for the European elections in June.
