Taylor Swift Lawsuit: Singer Feels ‘Violated,’ Judge Seals Photographic Evidence

Taylor Swift has successfully made the effort to keep the photos from a radio DJ allegedly groping her during a pre-concert meet-and-greet back in 2013 from surfacing. A judge decided on Friday, Oct. 21, to keep the photos sealed, according to TMZ.

But, there is some bad news. The judge’s decision to deny Swift’s request to withhold any other evidence from the case, which means the transcript of her July 26 deposition about the alleged incident, will now be publicly available. In the deposition, as reported by Billboard, Swift is asked to recall the incident in explicit detail as she talks about how she felt.

“I remember being frantic, distressed, feeling violated in a way I had never experienced before,” Swift is heard saying in the deposition. “A meet-and-greet is supposed to be a situation where you’re thanking people for coming, you’re supposed to be welcoming people into your home, which is the arena for that day, and for someone to violate that hospitality in that way, I was completely stunned.”

A transcript from Swift’s videotaped deposition gives the details of what happened on that day.

“Right as the moment came for us to pose for the photo, he took his hand and put it up my dress and grabbed onto my ass cheek and no matter how much I scooted over it was still there. It was completely intentional, I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life.”

News of the lawsuit made headlines earlier this year when Swift’s security team accused radio DJ David Mueller of grabbing Swift’s behind when they posed for photos backstage with other people in June, 2013, during her Red World Tour. Two days later, Mueller was fired from his position at KYGO radio. In 2015, Mueller sued Swift, saying that her accusations were false and caused him to lose his job as a result.

The radio DJ argued that he brought his girlfriend backstage to meet Swift, according to a report via the Daily Mail. They both took photos and autographs with the singer. He insists that the meet-and-greet was quick and smooth, and that the singer “remained pleasant as she bid him goodbye.” Later that night, Mueller said he ran into his former boss who bragged about the meet-and-greet, claiming that he put his arms around Swift and grabbed her buttocks while they were taking a photo together.

Swift’s bodyguard then approached Mueller and accused him of being the one who groped Swift. Mueller claims he was then kicked out of the venue and banned from future Swift concerts for life. Swift claimed that following the incident, she was forced to give a concert for 13,000 fans while clearly still in distress over the assault.

He later sued Swift for slander, saying that he touched her by accident, and that it was his former boss who grabbed her inappropriately. After Mueller sued her, Swift countersued him for assault and battery, saying that she would donate any money she won to charitable organizations that protect women from sexual assault.

Swift’s lawyers have argued that the photo should not be shared with the public because “it is all but assured that the photograph will be shared for scandalous and prurient interests” and it would influence the jury. The judge agreed, but argued that other evidence from the case would not be kept away from the public. He also argued that the other type of evidence is “entirely ordinary and mundane” from withholding from the public.

“The widespread dissemination of this image might significantly complicate jury selection,” the judge said, according to TMZ.

Swift’s reps have not responded to the media for comment.

[Featured Image by Jason Merritt/Getty Images]