Taylor Swift Accused Of Slander In Lawsuit For Butt-Grope
Talyor Swift has gotten her rear into a bit of controversy lately since firing former DJ David Mueller after he reportedly grabbed Taylor’s behind. Mueller has now taken action into his own hands by filing a suit against the 1989 songstress citing a complaint that Swift is guilty of slander along with a number of others.
Billboard shares the happenings that initially led to Mueller being fired from his job, and then in turn led to a lawsuit against Swift.
“In June 2013, Mueller attended a backstage meet-and-greet with Swift, along with his girlfriend/co-worker Shannon Melcher. The couple took a photo with the superstar and later that night a member of Swift’s security team approached Mueller and accused him of touching her inappropriately. Mueller was fired from KYGO two days after the concert, according to his complaint, and sued Swift in September.”
As the Wrap notes, papers filed by Mueller in the case within the federal court state that “[Swift and others] orally published and/or caused to be published to third parties multiple statements that Plaintiff Mueller lifted Taylor Swift’s skirt and grabbed her bottom during a photo session, or statements in substantially similar words.”
Additionally Mueller goes on to indicate that ” [the amended complaint claims] were false at the time they were made.”
A spokesperson spoke with the publication and indicated that Mueller was fired immediately after the incident. The Wrap shares the details.
“At the time of the lawsuit’s filing, a spokesperson for Swift told TheWrap that KYGO, the radio station Mueller worked for, ‘was given evidence immediately after the incident. They made their independent decision’ to fire Mueller.”
Taylor has since filed her own counter suit against Mueller’s claims and asserts that the incident did, in fact, take place. The superstar added to her testimony that she is “surprised, upset, offended and alarmed,” by the initial event and also that Mueller is attempting to turn an indecent action on her when he was fired for it.
Mueller’s attorney relays the claims of his client stating that the accusations made by Swift towards Mueller are nonsense as Billboard shares.
“The contention that Mr. Mueller lifted up Ms. Swift’s skirt and grabbed her bottom, while standing with his girlfriend, in front of Ms. Swift’s photographer and Ms. Swift’s highly trained security personnel, during a company-sponsored, VIP, backstage meet-and-greet, is nonsense.”
The counter-suit filed by Swift in response is on the basis of the offense of assault and battery, seeking damages arising from “the undisputed fact that a sexual assault was committed against” her.
Mueller defended himself pinning the blame on his own boss who he alleges made inappropriate comments about Swift when in her presence. Mueller stated that his boss Eddie Haskell bragged about being the individual who grabbed Swift’s buttocks that night and shared with him that “he and one of his friends in the industry think Ms. Swift must wear bicycle shorts under her stage outfits.”
Taylor Swift’s attorney J. Douglas Baldridge was quick to respond to Mueller’s deflection from his own apparent wrongdoings.
“It was Mueller — and she is not confused in the slightest about whether her long-term business acquaintance, Mr. Haskell, was the culprit. Resolution of this Counterclaim will demonstrate that Mueller alone was the perpetrator of the humiliating and wrongful conduct targeted against Ms. Swift, and will serve as an example to other women who may resist publicly reliving similar outrageous and humiliating acts.”
Although this is an unfortunate occurrence and experience for the talented star to face, Swift has has a remarkably successful past few years and has just made history by being the first female artist to win Best Album of the Year two years in a row at the Grammys.
[Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images]
