Lawyer: DJ Isn't Groping Taylor Swift in Photo

As her lawyers allege
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Aug 9, 2017 5:03 AM CDT
DJ Sued by Taylor Swift Says He Maybe Touched Her Ribs
In this courtroom sketch, pop singer Taylor Swift, left, appears with her lawyer and mother in federal court Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, in Denver.    (Jeff Kandyba)

A former radio DJ accused of groping Taylor Swift before a concert testified Tuesday that he may have touched the pop superstar's ribs with a closed hand as he tried to jump into a photo with her but insisted he did not touch her backside as she claims. David Mueller told jurors at the civil trial on dueling lawsuits filed by Mueller and Swift that he and the singer-songwriter were trying to reach around one another and "our hands touched and our arms touched" during a photo opportunity he estimated lasted no more than 40 seconds, reports the AP. Under questioning by his attorney, Mueller said he may have touched Swift's "rib cage, or rib, or ribs."

The 2013 photo of Swift, Mueller, and Mueller's girlfriend taken at the pre-concert event in Denver is a key piece of evidence in Mueller's suit claiming he was fired after being falsely accused by Swift. He is seeking at least $3 million. The photo shows Mueller with his hand behind Swift, just below her waist. Both are smiling. Her lawyers have called the photo "damning" proof that Mueller groped her. Mueller's lawyer, Gabriel McFarland, showed jurors the photograph during his opening remarks. "If you look at that photograph, his hand is not underneath Miss Swift's skirt, and her skirt is not rumpled in any fashion," McFarland said, noting that no one on Swift's concert team saw anything amiss. Mueller also testified that one of his station bosses told him he touched Swift's butt, but Swift says she is positive it was Mueller. Swift is seeking $1. (More Taylor Swift stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X